296 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



Others agaiu of the type and asperaiia. From two hedges, about two miles 

 from each other, cirrana was most frequently obtained, and in another 

 hedge asperana was predominant. An interesting form, somewhat re- 

 sembling P. comparana, was occasionally met with, but the form least 

 often observed was var. borana, which bears a superficial likeness to 

 P. pernmtana. The pretty var. albana was not seen, but three specimens 

 were obtained which exhibit variation in the direction of that form. Some 

 of the specimens referred to as var. cirrana have the ground colour bluish 

 grey, others brownish grey. I should be glad to have information as to the 

 distribution of this form of P. variegana. — Richard South ; Macclesfield, 

 Sept. 15th, 1894. 



Dragonflies at Wisley Pond, near Cobham, Surrey. — With a 

 friend I visited the pond on August 28th last, in search of dragonflies, and 

 no sooner had we reached the margin than JEschna grandis were seen 

 hawking up and down, and evidently getting a good supply of insects. So 

 wary, however, were they that with difficulty one was secured, and although 

 several were seen during the day, no more were taken. A long time was 

 given to trying to catch a female of jEschna juncea, which was continually 

 dipping the tip of her abdomen in the water, evidently depositing eggs in 

 the shallow water (about 1 ft. deep) in a corner of the pond containing a bed 

 of dry Equisetum. On our approaching almost within striking distance 

 she moved off a few yards, and recommenced ovipositing as before. At 

 length, losing sight of her, we went to dinner. On returning she (or 

 possibly another) was still there, but soon fell a prey as she was resting 

 with her wings on the surface of the water and her body immersed in it. 

 Plenty of Libellula strlolata were to be seen flitting about, and intermixed 

 with them were fair numbers of L. scotica. In one corner of the pond was 

 a colony of the handsome little dragonfly, Lestes sponsa, the females being 

 bronze-green, and their somewhat smaller mates of the same colour, but 

 powdered with blue on the thorax and the end of the abdomen. On 

 revisiting the pond, on Sept. 11th, we found the dragonflies much the 

 same as regards species, but the larger ones were not so much in evidence; 

 and as we did not catch one of the blue species of jEschna, we could not 

 decide whether those we saw were cyanea or juncea. — J. S. Brocklesby ; 

 17, Fairlawn Villas, Merton, Surrey. 



Note on Dragonklies. — During a stay in the New Forest from August 

 11th to 25th, I saw very lew of the large dragonflies, and those were JEschna 

 grandis, and probably cyanea ; but Libellula strlolata [Sympetrwn vulgatum] 

 was in plenty, flitting about here and there in its usual lively manner, 

 suddenly appearing, hovering for a time in the air, and disappearing again 

 with lightning rapidity. With it, near Beaulieu, some specimens of 

 L. scotica were seen, and there I took one female Orthetrum ccerulescem, 

 but did not see her more gorgeous mate. Over Lymington River a few 

 individuals, both male and female, of Calopteryx vlrgo were still flyiug, but 

 their season was evidently over. Near Oxford, during the few hot days at 

 the end of August, Mschna grandis was very plentiful, but extremely diffi* 

 cult to catch — in fact, I find this the strongest flyer, and the most wily in 

 disposition, of all the dragonflies, except perhaps Anax formosus, whose 

 acquaintance I have made. However, if one remains perfectly quiet for 

 twenty minutes or so, while it is hunting around, its suspicious begin to be 

 allayed, and a chance is usually given for a stroke, but it must not be 

 a bungling one, or the insect will probably go straight away, and be seen 



