by edward newman. 511 



Class. — Neukoptera. 

 Natural Order. — Libellulites, hied. 

 Genus Lihellulam ut a Doct. Leach circumscriptum, audeiido iterum 

 dividere in terram ambiguam periclitor : niliilominus mihi videtur, 

 character unicus " metalce sexihus ambohus coinpares" non suffi- 

 cit, propterea distinctiones novas in corporis figuram conditas, 

 attentavi : instrumenta cibaria haud examinavi, quoniam genus * 

 satis determinatum instanter universus monstrat aspectus, san- 

 ciuntque characteres enumerati existimo. 



Genus. — Sympetrum.'^ Newman. 

 Caput metathorace latius : propodeon, podeonque in commisura 

 incrassata : segmenta sequentia lateribus compressa : protelum ae 

 adjacentia plus minusve incrassata : tetum minutum : teli appen- 

 dices notas cseteris distinctas vix praebent : alarum stigma utrin- 

 que convexum. 



The remaining species of Dr. Leach's genus, Libellula, 

 widely differ from each other in the form of the posterior 

 segments, and in the length of the superior caudal appendages 

 of the male ; but in none of them are these segments com- 

 pressed as in the genus Symjietrum ; they will, in all proba- 

 bility, resolve eventually into three distinct genera, and as 

 such I had once prepared them for publication, together with 

 Sympetrum, as below,^ but a dislike to name-giving induced 

 me to relinquish them. 



A, Sexus colors discrepantes. 

 Symp. Scoticum. Mas, purimreo-nigrum, maculis flavis ; 

 alls hyalinis : pedibvs nigris. Fem. olivciceum, macidis 

 flavis : suhtus n'lgrinn ; alls hyaUnis hasi flavis. Mas et 

 Fem. stigmate nigro, pedihiis nigris. 



"* SuyUTTiefco comprimo, rirpov abdomen. 



« Sympetrum ; abdomen laterarty compressed. Ex. Vulgatum, Linn. &c. 

 Orthetrum ; abdomen laterally parallel. Ex. Ccerulescens, Fab. CanccUa- 



tum, Linn. 

 Platetrum ; abdomen depressed and dilated. Ex. Deprcssum, Linn. Con- 



spurcatum, Linn. 

 Leptetrwn ; abdomen conical and pointed. Ex. Quadrimacutum, Linn. Pio'- 

 nubilum, Newman. 

 I may add that it is with great pleasure I have seen the divisions of Clairville's 

 genus, Colymletes, lately raised by our friends on the continent to the rank of 

 genera. They had long since been similarly divided and labelled with MS. names 

 in my own cabinet — causing much good-humoured raillery among my acquaint- 

 ance, at my love of making divisions. 



