329 

 OTTAWA DRAGON-FLIES. 



T. J. Maclaughlin. 



Read 4th March, 188G. 



To give anything like an accurate description of the dragon-flies, 

 as a whole, would be rather a difficult task, and is, perhaps, more than 

 it would be advisable to attempt at the beginning of my remarks ; but 

 before proceeding further it rnay be well to give a general idea of the 

 predominant or characteristic features of the family to whicli they 

 belong. 



The head is generally large, in some species globular, with veiy 

 large eyes often encircling the head ; thorax large and square ; abdomen 

 always long, slender, cylindrical, burnished, brassy green and of various 

 other colors ; four membraneous, net veined wings, generally transpa- 

 rent, but often spotted and clouded, and in some cases almost entirely 

 black, always expanded ; legs long and delicate, evidently not intended 

 for much walking. 



Not long ago the Order Neuroptera was divided into two sections 

 as follows (according to Erichson) : 



Section 1 — Pseudo, (or false) Neuroptera, Mandibulate insects 

 with incomplete metamorphoses (active pup«) ; lower lip mostly cleft ; 

 tour membraneous reticulate "wings (raiely with rudimentary wings or 

 " apterous), antennae either subulate, and then the tarsi three — to four 

 " — articulate, or setiform, or filiform, in vvliich case the tarsi are two — 

 "to four — articulate." 



Section II. — True Neuroptera. 



Mandibulate insects with complete metamorphoses (inactive pu]'a); 

 lower lip entire ; four membranaceous, more or less reticulate wings 

 (rarely with rudimentary wings or apterous); antennje, setifoi-m, filiform, 

 clavate, capitate or pectinate ; tarsi five-articiilate. 



These sections, however, are now considered by Entomologists as 

 entii'ely distinct Orders. 



Pseudoneuroptera is composed of six f^irailies ; Termitida^, E-nbi- 

 d?e, Psocidse, Perlidse, Ephemeridfe and Libellulidfe. To this last family 



