140 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



the species breeds on a part of the Essex coast. Numbers of 

 S. scoticum were met with by Mr. Briggs and myself at a large 

 pond on Exmoor, where their large size was noticeable. The 

 species is also reported from Chobham Common and Chertsey, 

 in Surrey (E. Vincent). On Sept. 13th I for the first time 

 noticed a dragonfly, which appeared to be S. striolatum, flying 

 backwards ; moreover, it was not so acting in order to back out 

 of a corner, for no obstacle was near it. 



On Aug. 15th Mr. A. H. Hamm took a male Syiwpetrum 

 vulgaium at Torquay. It did not appear to be a solitary speci- 

 men, but Mr. Hamm unfortunately brought away but one, not 

 recognising at the time the importance of his capture. This is 

 the second authenticated British specimen. 



Again Orthetrum ccendescens was extremely common in the 

 New Forest in August ; it appeared to be just coming on the 

 wing at the beginning of June. There has been a welcome 

 increase in the number of known localities of its congener, 

 O. cancellatum — a pair were taken in Sussex, near Liphook (H. 

 J. Turner), and the species has been discovered on Chobham 

 Common, Surrey (E. Vincent). Dr. F. A. Walker also describes 

 an insect taken by him near Byfleet which is in all probability 

 a female of tbis species. 



Mr. C. A. Briggs reports Cordulegaster annulatus as present, 

 but not common, and difficult to catch, along the East Lynn 

 Eiver in North Devon. 



On July 29th a female A7iax imperator, dull bluish in colour, 

 was observed hawking, between seven and eight in the evening, 

 very slowly over a stream in the New Forest, reduced by the drought 

 to a string of pools. When the insect was held by the legs, after 

 being knocked down by a stick, it vibrated its wings very rapidly, 

 especially at the tip, the base not appearing to move at all. 

 On the ear being brought near a deep hum was heard. When 

 the finger touched the abdomen the vibration could be felt there. 

 Mr. E. B. Bishop observed an insect on Crooksbury Common, 

 Surrey, on June 28th, which by description must be a female of 

 this species, so furnishing yet another Surrey locality for this 

 handsome dragonfly. Mr. H. J. Turner captured a female in 

 Sussex, near Liphook. Its near relative, Brachytron pratense, 

 was taken (J. Brest) at the Broads near Lowestoft in the begin- 

 ning of June. 



Males of Mschna mixta were rather plentiful on Esher Com- 

 mon in September. They often flew low down amongst the tall 

 reeds, whereas they usually fly quite high round the trees and 

 tall bushes. Though no captures were made in either place, I 

 almost certainly met with the species at Ockham Common and 

 in the New Forest. In the neighbourhood of Colchester, Mr. 

 Harwood found the species from August till October, and more 

 generally distributed, though perhaps on the whole scarcer than 



