50 DRAGONFLIES OF OHIO. 



longer ; the inferiors are stout, curved upward and in- 

 ward, black at tip. 



The female orange and black, head black and 

 orange, pattern as in the male except the rear is orange; 

 prothorax black with light lines on margin, sides 

 orange; thorax orange with a wide mid-dorsal spot 

 black; pterostigma light yellow; abdomen orange black 

 as follows: small triangle in middle of 1, same at base of 

 2, rings at apex of 2-4, all of 5-8, basal triangles each 

 sides of 9. The appendage and valves orange, the 

 extreme tips of the processes black. 



THIRD SUB-FAMILY. 

 GOMPHIN^E 



This group includes species of strong individuality, 

 their form and habits are unlike those of other groups. 



The rigid spike-like abdomen, rather small and sep- 

 arated eyes are characters that define them without 

 mistake. Among them are our bulkiest species, none 

 are really small. Their habitats are various : some are 

 found only about the rapid streams or waved tossed 

 lakes, others by the reedy pools, while others haunt the 

 sloughs mantled by lily-pads. They do not fly about in 

 apparent sportiveness as do the Libellulas ; the females 

 rest among the adjacent foliage, or on the ground in 

 some near by pathway ; repairing at intervals to the 

 water's edge, or skimming the roughened surface of the 

 rapid stream or disturbed lake foroviposition; the males 

 rest nearer the water, skirt the bordering aquates, or 

 explore the water far from shore in search of the ovi- 

 positing females. Copulation is at rest in low herbage 

 or high up in trees. The female oviposits unattended 

 by the male and the eggs are washed from the tip of the 

 abdomen by repeated dips into the water, either in some 



