302 Mr. K. J. ^lorton on 



13rachythemis fuscopaUiata^ Selys. 

 15 c?J, 10 ? ?, 6-9. v., 12-17. v., 25-31. v., 2-1. vi., 

 ]3-21.vi., ll.vii. (13asra) ; ^ S S , 4-8. vii. (Amaui). 



Fully iuiult males from Basra May 6tli to June 20tli, a 

 iiiw examples which i)ave. not attained full coloration ]\Iav 7ih 

 to June 21st. None of the Amaru specimens are fully 

 ci)lcj4ire(l, that of July 8th being apparently the youngest in 

 tlie collection. All the males included show the dark win<:;- 

 marking in some degree. In its beginning it seems normally 

 to be most concentrated on the middle of the win<;s, forming 

 somewhat of a brownish transverse band extending to beyond 

 the nodus, darkest on its outer edge; the daik colour appears 

 to grow more rapidly to the base of the hind wings than of 

 the tore wings, gradually increasing in intensity in both and 

 tinally reaching in the latter to the costal field, which may be 

 only |)artially coloured in quite adult individuals. After the 

 colour has become fairly mature at the base of the fore wings, 

 the bodj'-markings become giadually obliterated and have 

 entirely disappeared by the time the full adult wing-colora- 

 tion is reached. 



From Brewitt-Taylor'a notes : " 21. vi. 16 : I have noticed 

 that both males and females of this species are smaller now 

 than they used to be in April. . . . 



" Species found only on banks of streams and stagnant 

 waters. J\lales very active towards evening when they flit 

 about and hover over the streams. Flight very rapid, and 

 difficult to catch. . . . 



" The male seems to hover over the female while latter is 

 ovipositing and keejts off other males. Female oviposits by 

 hovering over reed [' flouting object ' — these words deleted] 

 and continually toucliing it with the tail. 



"At dusk male and female sometimes leave vicinity of 

 water and hover about ground in open spaces. 



" Females easily caught settled on grass on margin of 

 stream. 



" During heat of day males perch on branch of tree or on 

 grass on edge of stream and are easily taken. When perched 

 tlie tail is held up at an angle, and the wings slightly above 

 the horizontal. 



"Arrived at Amaru on July 2nd. Here the common form 

 «)f the male has a distinctly brown-.«peckled abdomen and 

 only slightly clouded wings. Very black sj)ecimcns occur, 

 liiit are uncommon ; the females are as at Basra. The habits 

 are distinctly dilTorent, however, and here the species is very 

 (Dmmon and easy to catch as they fly about the grass. They 

 iie(juently shelter in oni- tout." 



