123 



14th. It is probable, however, that, had it been sought 

 for, the same species might have been found at least as late 

 in 1898. 



Several good species fell to the net, chiefly in the latter 

 part of the season. In the New Forest on July 30th, and 

 during the early days of August, Agrion mercuriale was 

 found to be common in one of its centres, where it seems 

 quite safe from extinction. Towards the end of August 

 Synipetruni sanguineum was found in some numbers in one 

 of its habitats, that near Sandwich, in Kent. It was then, 

 however, past its best, the wings being worn and chipped. 

 In the same neighbourhood, on August 22nd, a male Libellula 

 fulva fell to my lot. Though so very late for this species, it 

 was in fair condition ; but whatever the condition might 

 have been, the capture would have been acceptable, for there 

 seem to be but six previous localised records of it in the 

 magazines, &c. This insect so closely resembles L.depressa, 

 or Orthctrum cancellatum, that it may be sometimes passed 

 over, for there is little doubt that it is a true British species 

 and breeds in this country. 



Aischna mixta, one of the scarcest species of the fine genus 

 to which it belongs, seems to be present at some of the 

 Surrey ponds more commonly than is supposed, though it 

 is somewhat difficult to distinguish on the wing, and still 

 more difficult to secure. After patient watching for a long 

 time on September 12th, a beautiful male was captured 

 when at last it settled after flying high round the fir trees. 

 In one locality in England it was common in i8gS, but on 

 the whole it must be looked upon as a very scarce insect, 

 and but few British specimens are to be found in cabinets. 



Perhaps the most interesting point in connection with the 

 season was an immigration of Sympctrum flavcolum. Though 

 occasionally taken in this country, and once at least present 

 in large numbers, it is probable that this insect never breeds 

 here. On the present occasion I captured about twenty 

 specimens at two ponds on Ockham Common, in Surrey, 

 and at the end of the month saw one near Thursley, in the 

 same county. One was taken near Oxford also, and one 

 near Colchester. It is fair to suppose that if many ento- 

 mologists had been on the alert the record might have been 

 added to considerably. Every insect taken was a male, and 

 there seems little hope of the insect breeding here. It seems 

 likely that a few S. sanguineum accompanied their congeners. 

 Too few captures have been recorded to allow one to speak 

 with any certainty, but it seems that the migration took 



