36 



seven t3'-seven ; all Europe about one hundred and five; 

 New York State eight^'-five ; and the vicinity of Phila- 

 delphia sixty-five. 



These studies are making it clear that we have sev- 

 eral species, heretofore regarded as strictly southern, 

 abundant enough, especially in the western and north- 

 western parts. As examples I may cite Macromia, 

 tasiniolota, Dromogomphus spoliatus and Gomphus ex- 

 teruus, although the last has long been known in Illi- 

 nois. Also, that certain western and northwestern 

 species are invading our territory, for example Diplax 

 corrupta, the native heath of which appears to be west 

 of the Mississippi to the Pacific; it has of late been 

 found abundant at Cincinnati, Sandusk\', Wauseon and 

 as far east along Lake Erie as Buffalo ; Calopteryx 

 aequahilis is a common species in the northwest, reach- 

 ing North Michigan in abundance, it is found sparingh' 

 in Central Michigan and rarely in Northern and Central 

 Ohio. I have to think that some, at least, of these 

 species, mentioned above, have come into our state 

 quite recently. It is well known that some other in- 

 sects have greath' extended their range since the occu- 

 pation of the country by civilized man. To the ques- 

 tion : "Are our species growing fewer?" I am in- 

 clined to answer that the evidence is the other way. 

 However, time must elapse during which accurate rec- 

 ords are kept before a safe canclusion is reached. Since 

 the seasons of 1894 and 1895 have been those of the 

 severest drouth, when streams and ponds have disap- 

 peared over wide areas, apparenth^ destroying the 

 nymphs of man}- and preventing oviposition bv others, 

 the result will be awaited with interest in 1896. If the 

 species are reduced in number or in number of individ- 

 uals it will be considered good evidence that the extreme 

 vicissitudes, due to clearing and ditching, ma}^ reduce 

 the number of species. If the Odonata are abundant in 

 1896 it will show that the nymphs are not easily killed 

 and that our species are likel}' to hold their own if the 



