DRAGONFLIES IN 1896. 



29 



North Sussex, in October, laying its eggs in an elm trunk at night, 

 vnth the ovipositor firmly fixed into the trunk. 



Gryllotalpa vulgaris, Latr. By Chichester canal. 



Bellagio, East Grinstead. 



DEAGONFLIES IN 1896. 

 By W. J. Lucas, B.A., F.E.S. 



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J' 



Fig. 1. — Ptjrrhosoma miniuiii, Harr. 



Fig. 2. — Erythromma najas, Haus. 



Kemarkable in many ways has been the season of 1896. 

 After an almost frostless winter in the South of England, the 

 end of April and beginning of May, when dragonflies commence 

 to appear, was cold and ungenial, and the early species were a 

 few days later than usual in coming on the wing. The season, 

 however, as it grew older, improved continually, and must pro- 

 bably be set down as a good one until summer suddenly collapsed 

 in the middle of August. But even after that, on the few scattered 

 fine days that occurred, some species were to be taken, and in 

 good numbers, until the latter end of September. 



What, however, constitutes the most striking feature of the 

 season was the long summer drought, and it will be interesting 

 to note during the next three years its effect, especially on those 



