19-21.] F. F. Laidi^aw : Indian Dragonflies. 8y 



was turned down in an arch. The median ventral appendage (tere- 

 bra) was pulled out from between the lower paired appendages 

 (valves), and rapidly inserted into the earth, in which it left a 

 small hole. In this hole an egg was evidently laid. The terebra was 

 then rapidly withdrawn, the abdomen turned aside a little and a 

 new hole made at a different spot. Five or six eggs were thus 

 laid in succession at one place. It was difficult to observe details 

 of the process as it was executed with great speed, but the action 

 of the terebra was easih' seen." 



The colouring of teueral specimens of both sexes is very 

 similar to that of adult females of A. erythroinelas. The denti- 

 gerous plate of the female also resembles that of .4. erythromelas 

 more than any other Aeschna that I know of, but is rather 

 nearer the typical aeschnid plate, having some irregularly placed 

 spines on its ventral surface near the apex. 



& (Teueral). Anterior surface of head dull brown, vertex 

 and occiput very dark brown almost black. 



Thorax dark brown, with broad antehumeral bands, pointed 

 below, truncate above, of pale yellow colour, on either side of the 

 thorax two broad pale yellow bars. 



Abdomen brownish red, each segment except the last with a 

 narrow terminal black ring. Segments i and 2 with a lateral yel- 

 low band, 3 with a small lateral yellow triangle anteriorly. 



In the teneral female the colouring is almost identical with 

 that of the male. It differs from that of A . ervthroinclas chiefly 

 in not having the last three segments of the abdomen entirelv 

 black. 



The more mature female has the summit of the frons black. 

 The abdominal colour deepens to a dull dark brown. A narrow 

 sub-apical ring of greenish yellow appears on each segment from 

 2-8, and in addition the position of the ' jugum ' is marked by a 

 narrow transverse mark of the same colour, interrupted in the 

 mid-dorsal line. 



The species is remarkable for the open character of the vena- 

 tion, in which respect it approaches Aeschna (?) petalura, Martin. 

 The anal appendages however are small and pointed in the 

 female. The wings in the adult female have a yellow tinge which 

 is most marked distal to the nodus and on the anal margin. 



L,ength of abdomen in adult 9 , S2 mm., of hinder-wing 



57-5 mm. 



Aeschna ("0 petalura, Martin. 



AascUna petalura, Mailin. Cat. Coll. Selvs Ae.iclm.. pp. /S-jg, tig--, 

 -'4-7 7- 

 As above remarked this species is scarcely a true Aeschna. 

 The shortness of the triangle of the hinder -wing and the 

 narrow intervals above the radial and median supplements mark 

 it off from the more typical species of the genus. Found near 

 Darjiling and in the Khasi Hills. 



