Odonata from Mesopotamia. 303 



As mentioned above, Brewitt-Taylor's Aniara specimens 

 are not fully mature, and liis remarks point to an emergence 

 ot" the species having recently taken place there. 



J'lithemis annuluta, Beauvais. 



23 c? (?, 18 ? V , 0-8. v., 13-19. v., -25-26. v., 2-0. vi. 

 (Basra). 



The collector refers to the abdomen of the c? in different 

 specimens as brownish red, crimson-red, yellowish pur|)le, 

 purple-red, and plum-coloured, and of the ? as yellowish, 

 greenish yellow, and brownish red, these variations no doubt 

 marking different stages of maturity. In some of the 

 females the amber colouring of the wing-base is continued 

 to the nodus in the anterior part of the hind wings, and the 

 apex of the wings is sometimes tinted. 



" The insects sit on palm-leaves, the wings drooped down- 

 wards and forwards, the abdomen being slightly raised, and 

 they are very quick. ^' 



Pantala flavescens , Fabr. 

 1 J, 1 ?, 14.viii. (Amara). 



Selysiothemis nigra, Lind. 



25 c? c?, 20 ? ?, 7. v., 13-16. v., 25-27. v., 1-9. vi. 

 (Basra). 



" This species occurred abundantly for about three or four 

 days (May 14th to 17th). I think it was the same species 

 which similarly suddenly appeared in large numbers on 

 April 20th. It was more numerous then than the swarms 

 on 14th-17th. The species does not frequent waterways, but 

 is found in open spaces, settling on stunted grass. It occa- 

 sionally comes to light. June 8th : Very abundant. There 

 is great variation in the amount of black. Males generally 

 darker, and all bluo-black specimens are males. June 10th : 

 The species has practically disappeared again ; has lasted 

 from 4th to 10th." (Brtivilt-Taijlor.) 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE XIV. 

 Fit/. 1. C. erythvcea chald(eorutn (IJaara, Evans). As explained above, 



the tooth is present, but was tl.rown out ol view by pressure. 

 Fiy. 2. The same (Basra, Hrewitt-Taylor). Tfaniule only. To bring 



out the tooth clearly the haniule was tilted in the preparation, 



with the result that the base was thrown out of focus. 

 Fi(j. 3, C. erythr<ea (^Ladai^'ascar). Ilanuiles only. The left-hand cue 



iu the preparation shows the tooth very clearly. 

 Fig. 4. C. servilia (Bengal). 



(I am indebted to .Mr. Martin E. Mosdy for the excellent pliotographs 

 of the preparations, and also for his expert assistance in remounting the 

 hamule shown iu lig. 2.) 



