NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS. 121 



in Middlesex, and whether or no it still occurs in North London is 

 more than I can say. But in past days Caloptenjx splendens certainly 

 was common (and I think C. vin/o also) on the banks of the New Eiver 

 in the grounds of Amos Grove, Southgate. The course of that portion 

 of the New River has since been diverted, and it no longer flows 

 through my cousin's property. In those days, also, my father used to 

 bring these dragonflies home after taking a walk by the River Lea. I 

 believe one chief cause of my own attention being primarily directed 

 to entomology was noticing the extreme beauty of a specimen of 

 C. splendens that an old asthmatic spaniel of ours was holding 

 between its paws. 



y^schidda. — Anax imperalor =^formosHs. An occasional visitor in 

 North London. A solitary specimen was observed by a lady (then a 

 neighbour of ours) two consecutive summers in St. Cuthbert's Road, 

 which skirts the side of my residence. I did not see it myself; but 

 the description which I received of its size, colour, and unusual 

 appearance left no room for doubt that it was that species. — /Eschna 

 cyanea. Common in this neighbourhood. Specimens from Cricklewood, 

 Dudden Hill, Kingsbury, Northwood, &c. — JS. grandis. Not very 

 common, and difficult to catch. Cricklewood and Pinner. — M. juncea 

 and vE. mixta. My impression is that one or other of these species 

 used to frequent a pond many years since in the grounds of Amos 

 Grove, Southgate ; but I have not seen either of them lately, and 

 have only a single British specimen of each in my collection. — 

 Brachjjtron pratense. I once saw a solitary example, when the summer 

 was well advanced, of what I am almost certain was this species, in 

 Water Lane, Cricklewood. Under the impression that I had missed 

 my stroke, I incautiously opened my net, when it immediately flew 

 out, much to my dismay. Water Lane, now being rapidly surrounded 

 by buildings on either side, no longer serves as a locality for the ento- 

 mologist. My three examples of this species are from Basingstoke 

 Canal, Byfleet. 



LibeUididcB. — Libelluhi depressa. Common. Dudden Hill, Kingsbury, 

 Cricklewood, ponds on Northwood Common. Often difficult to secure, 

 from the fact of one of its favourite settling places being full length 

 along a bramble spray. — Stjmpetrum striolatwn (= vxdgatum). Wan- 

 stead Park, Essex ; Northwood Common ; Dudden Hill, Cricklewood. 

 — Lihellula quadrhuaculata. I think I have seen this species in Wan- 

 stead Park. I imagine it must also occur in this neighbourhood 

 [e.ij. Cricklewood, Kingsbury, Hendon, &c.), but I cannot speak 

 positively as to having seen it myself here. 



AjrionidiB. — Lestes spoiisa. Dudden Hill; Wanstead Park, Essex. 

 — Pyrrhosoma minium,. Dudden Hill ; Wanstead Park, Essex. — 

 Erythrumma najas. Wanstead Park, Essex. Of the four blue species of 

 AgrionidcB, to wit, eleyans, cyathiyenim, pnella, pidcheUum, I believe I 

 have all from the stretch of water in Wanstead Park, and that eleyam 

 and pulcheUum, if not the remainder, occur at Dudden Hill ; but I 

 cannot speak positively as to the distinguishing marks of these 

 species until carefully examined and pronounced on by an expert ; as 

 also my series of the same from Argyleshire and the New Forest. 



ENTOM. — APKIL, 1897. L 



