331 



vnd stones every few yards they go, one not acquainted with these 

 insects, would, without close observation, be apt to mistake them for 

 butterflies, but when they are at rest at a reasonable distance the most 

 casual observer would readily discern the diflference. These insects 

 frequent, and it may be said inhabit, swift running streams, especially, 

 I think, those streams that flow through shaded places and woods. In 

 open stretches and glades along such running waters those pretty little 

 creatures are most likely to be found. They are not particularly rare 

 in this vicinity but may be considered as quite local. The only place 

 at which I have observed them is along a brooklet on the north side of 

 the Aylmer road, which winds thro' low lands, meadows and woods 

 from the direction of the Chelsea Hills and falls into the Ottawa River 

 somewhere in the neighborhood of Hull. 



I had been on the lookout for a I'epresentative of this genus for a 

 whole summer without success, and not knowing the nature of their 

 habitat, my desire to meet one of them would probably still be unsatis- 

 fied had it not happeneil that I accompanied Mr. Fletcher to the little 

 creek mentioned, and there in all their lovely simplicity, fluttering 

 about in their wont.ed listless fashion along the murmuring brooklet, 

 shaded by long grass and overhanging willows, I first gazed on these 

 little denizens of the stream. IN or did they seem the least alarmed at 

 the ap[)roach of intruders, but continued to enjoy the silence of thfir 

 secluded haunt which was only broken by the rustle of the leaves over- 

 head and the musical babble of the waters as they rode over the 

 shining pebbles beneath them. On this occasion we had very little 

 trouble in securing several good specimens of each of the species 

 named. 



Sub-Family II. — ^Agrioninte. The flies of this sub-family resemble 

 those of CalopterygiiiK in the general shape of the hej, I and body, but 

 the venation of the wings is very different, for instead of having many 

 antecubital transverse veins they have only two. The \yings also are 

 petiolated in shape, i. e., narrowed into a stem-like neck at the base, 

 and always transparent without spots or clouds. The species are 

 nearly always much smaller than those described, and instead of 

 ir.habiting swift running water?, most of them seem to have a decided 

 preference for standing pools or sluggish strexms. They vary in size 



