OBTHOPTEKA. 129 



of Xipliiclium dorsale, on the Essex coast, not far from Clacton-on-Sea, 

 one hot day last Augaist, My elder son and I were together at the 

 time, looking out principally for Sympetrum Jiaveolum, of which he took 

 one female. The XipJiidium presented a very strange appearance on 

 the wing, and on netting it I found it was something quite new to 

 me ; and not being aware that A", dorsale was only known as a 

 micropterous insect, I thought it was probably a fully developed form 

 of that species, its very long antennae and general appearance pointing 

 to that conclusion. Having boxed it, after showing it to my son, we 

 were moving on, when we disturbed another. This was also captured, 

 but as its antennae proved defective, we turned it down again, and 

 somewhat to our disappointment, could meet with no more. I have 

 frequently seen Xiphidiu»i dorsale in the locality, but had not previously 

 found a macropterous specimen. — W. H. Haewood, Brooklyn Villas, 

 Station Eoad, Colchester. March 2Srd, 1900. 



XiPHiDiuM DOKSALE, Latk., vae. ? — Mr. W. H. Harwood has kindly 

 submitted to me for identification a curious specimen of Xij'ihidi iiw , 

 captured near Clacton-on-Sea, in August, 1899. At first glance it 

 might be taken for X.fuscuin, Fab., but a closer examination shows 

 that it is not that species, but apparently a macropterous form of X. 

 dorsale, Latr. This is a species which is normally micropterous, that 

 is to say, the organs of flight are abbreviated, though developed. They 

 are incapable of flight, and the Avings abortive, but the elytra are large 

 enough for purposes of stridulation. In the ? they are about half the 

 length of the undistended abdomen, and reach about half the 

 length of the posterior femora when these limbs are stretched out 

 backwards ; in the ^ the elytra are somewhat longer, usually almost 

 reaching the apex of the abdomen. But in this specimen both elytra 

 and wings are amply developed, and are capable of bearing the insect 

 upon the wing. The specimen before me is set with the wings 

 expanded, but when closed they would certainly reach well beyond the 

 posterior femora, if these were extended backwards. The length of the 

 elytra is given by Brunner as 6-5mm.-8mm.,but in this specimen they 

 are 18-5mm. ; Brunner does not give the length of the wings, which 

 are normally abortive, but in this specimen they are 19" 5mm. In 

 development of the wings and elytra this example closely resembles 

 X. fuscum, Fabr., and X. thoracmun, Fisch. de W., but it may be 

 distinguished by characters which will be given below. It agrees 

 entirely in structure with X. dorsale, except in that the elytra and 

 wings are fully developed, and in the form of the supra-anal plate of 

 the male. In X. dorsale this is sulcate in the centre, slightly depressed 

 and bituberculate on the hinder margin ; in this specimen, the supra- 

 anal plate is flat, not depressed, and bituberculate, but not sulcate. 

 This is an important character, and may possibly prove to be sufficient 

 for the basis of the erection of a new species. Without seeing the 

 female, however, it would be rash and premature to offer a new name, 

 as further characters, confirmatory or otherwise, may be found in the 

 other sex. For the present, it must, therefore, be regarded as a 

 macropterous form of Xipkidiiim dorsale, Latr. I am not aware that 

 this form has been before recorded, and it is certainly a rarity. Mr. 

 Harwood's statement, that a second specimen was seen, is interesting, 

 as it shows that it may be a local permanent race, and that it deserves 

 to be called a variety rather than an aberration. Macropterism in 



