DRA.GONFLIES IN 1897. 281 



New Forest, almost wherever I went between Aug. 1st and 

 14th, Orthetnim ccsrulesceiis was very common. The other 

 species of the genus, 0. cancellatum, I met with at Wisley Pond 

 on June 22nd, when it was rather fresh upon the wing. Sijmpe- 

 trum striolatum was another very common species in the New 

 Forest at the beginning of August, and I often noticed them in 

 pairs, the females ovipositing by dipping their abdomen into 

 the water, as in the case of P. depressiim, and apparently quite 

 as aimlessly. This species was also seen or taken in several 

 spots around Oxford towards the end of August. It was common 

 at Wisley and Black Ponds in Surrey in September, and several 

 specimens were observed at the last locality as late as Oct. 17th. 

 Sympetrum scoticum was first noticed at the Black Pond on July 

 18th, and was then in good numbers. It was still on the wing 

 in considerable plenty at the same place on Oct. 17th. I noticed 

 a few at Wisley Pond on Aug. 16th, and a pair on Sept. 11th. 

 In the New Forest I came across a few on Aug. 10th, in a boggy 

 spot about a couple of miles from Brockenhurst ; but there 

 apparently are not many in the Forest, at any rate in the 

 southern part. One or two specimens of this species had a ten- 

 dency to saffron suffusion of the fore wings, not an uncommon 

 form of variation amongst the Libelluline dragonflies. 



CorduUa cenea was met with on several occasions — at the 

 Black Pond on May 16th, May 23rd, and June 13th ; over 

 the canal, near Byfleet, on June 7th; and at Wisley Pond on 

 June 23rd. 



Between Aug. 1st and 14th C or diileg aster annidatus was very 

 common in the New Forest, generally flying low along the 

 streams. Large numbers of males might have been taken, but 

 I noticed only one female, which was captured as she was ovi- 

 positing. 



In Surrey, Anax formosus, though certainly very difficult to 

 capture, is not so uncommon an insect as is often supposed, and 

 it cannot be confused with any other dragonfly, for there are none 

 on the wing during its time of flight that it at all resembles. 

 Good numbers were out at the Black Pond on June 13th, and 

 several were about still on July 25th. On July 18th I took a 

 female there which had a blue abdomen, somewhat like the one 

 figured by Charpentier;* but all other females I have taken have 

 been quite green. On July 25th I caught a male which I had 

 just observed catch a S. scoticum. This it let go in the net. I 

 then, while holding formosus by the wings, offered it another 

 scoticum, which it seized and held with its legs (not its jaw). 

 After being bitten scoticum was let fall. I again offered the 

 scoticum, which (except the wings and part of the abdomen) was 

 devoured with gusto. I also saw this species at Wisley Pond on 



* ' Libelluliuse europaese,' pi. 45, fig. 1. 



