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NATURAL ORDERS OF INSECTS. 
By W.. J. duucss, B.A JF 3K.S: 
THosk who are interested in any group of insects coming 
within the Neuroptera (sensu lato) will welcome Dr. Sharp’s pro- 
nouncement in last month’s ‘ Entomologist’ on an arrangement 
of the Natural Order of Insects that falls in line with present- 
day opinions. At first sight the list seems somewhat revolu- 
tionary. A second glance, however, shews that the changes 
from the well-known nine are really slight. They are mainly 
two: (1) Breaking up the old Neuroptera into the parts, which 
everyone who has had to do with them has always recognised, 
and which many have long been accustomed to consider distinct 
orders. (2) Placing together and giving ordinate rank to three 
groups of apparently degenerate, but at any rate distinct, insects, 
about which verhaps further may be learned in the future. The 
old Aptera comprising the first three orders in the new list 
differ so much from one another that probably if they had their 
due they should be still further sub-divided; but their numbers 
are so few that in practice this is unnecessary. For the orders 
containing normally winged insects it seems well to adopt names 
ending in -ptera if possible; perhaps it might be wise to do the 
reverse with the rest. This could be done with very little 
change in nomenclature, except in the case of the Siphonaptera 
and Odonata. 
THE DRAGONFLIES OF EPPING FOREST IN 1909. 
By F. W. & H. Campion. 
Notwitustanpine the deplorable weather, we collected during 
the past season as many as fifteen species of Odonata in the 
Epping Forest district; none of these, however, were new to our 
local list. It will be noticed from the following remarks on the 
species observed that exceptionally late dates were recorded for 
Pyrrhosoma nymphula (August 15th), Agrion puella (September 
12th), Cordulia enea (August 4th), Erythromma naias (August 
Atk), and Anax imperator (August 15th). 
(1) Pyrrhosoma nymphula.—Immature specimens were met 
with plentifully on May 9th, at which time females preponderated 
greatly over males. By May 23rd pairs were flying in couple and 
ovipositing. Teneral individuals occurred as late in the season 
as June 13th, and the species continued in flight until Aug. 15th 
at all events, on which date an aged male was taken. This is 
the latest date for P. nymphula within our experience, although 
we have previously taken it in August (August 1st, 1904). The 
form of the female named /ulvipes was taken on May 9th, 16th, 
