ODONATA IN GERMANY. 169 



swarms of the species for miles along the river on June 27th, but 

 I did not find any variety in size or colour, although I was on 

 the look-out for abnormalities. 



Lestes viridift, Lind. — The species is evidently found in 

 localities where the surroundings are suitable, for I took it at 

 the pond near the Southern Railway Station only, and even 

 there it was uncommon. In August and September the male 

 was sometimes more or less plentiful, but only four females 

 made their appearance to me during the whole summer. 



It was the habit of the male to fly rather rapidly and jerkily, 

 and to settle on the highest reed-tops with half-expanded wings ; 

 the whitish pterostigma and anal appendages were then very 

 conspicuous, but the insect was hard to see while flying, as its 

 colour harmonized perfectly with the surroundings. I repeatedly 

 watched males at the top of a poplar-tree ; occasionally they 

 would fly down into the reeds, where they could be netted. 



The flight of the female is slower. Of oviposition I saw 

 nothing, but possibly it is the same as in L. sponsa, for the two 

 mature females which were taken were put up by beating the 

 reeds. On August 3rd the species made its first appearance, 

 and as it was still fairly plentiful on September 23rd, I conclude 

 that it lasts into October, 



L. dryas, Kirby. — The insect was found in the marsh, and 

 there it was plentiful in September. A single female was taken 

 at the pond near the Southern Railway Station on August 27th, 

 but this must have been a stray specimen, as I did not take 

 another there. 



This dragonfly is distinguishable from L. sponsa, even on the 

 wing, by its larger size and darker colour. 



L. sponsa, Hans. — On July 7tli this species was out, and was 

 very plentiful in all the localities, except in the brickyard, until 

 the end of September. 



Sympycna fiisca, Charp. — This most interesting species 

 appeared first in a perfectly mature condition on June 9th at the 

 pond adjoining the Lahn. On June 13th I again took mature 

 specimens at the pond near the Southern Railway Station ; on 

 June 16th I took a single male only at the former locality. 



Not until August 25th did the dragonfly appear again, and 

 then it was very plentiful in both the localities mentioned, but 

 in a very immature state. After this I did not observe it again. 

 This surely points to the hybernation of the species, which dies 

 off in June, the new generation emerging from the nymph in 

 August, as De Selys points out in his ' Monographia ' (1840, 

 p. 146). When immature, the dragonfly no doubt spends its 

 time far from water. I never observed the female ovipositing ; 

 perhaps oviposition takes place in October. The species flies 

 close to the water, where it is difficult to see. 



Platycnemis pennipes. Pall. — Of the Zygopterides observed 



