66 - MR F, r. LAIDLAW OX 



In the female both pairs of wings have a smoky tinge all ovei' 

 them, most marked towards the apices. Further, the base of the 

 fore wino-s has a rich red-brown tint, best marked in the snb- 

 median space and in the sub-costal space, extending as far as the 

 level of the second antenodal. The base of the hind wing has, 

 too, a darker colour, except along the anal margin beyond the 

 level of the anal angle, but on this wing the colour is for 

 the most part of a dark brownish black (veiy similar to the 

 colour on the wings of a Rhyothemis) with a metallic glaze, 

 except that the median and cubital spaces have only the 

 transparent red-brown tint of the base of the fore wing. The 

 dark colour extends as far as the fourth antenodal nerve, and 

 posteriorly has a regularly curved margin. Body-colour similar 

 to that of the male. Upper surfaces of head and thorax metallic 

 blue-green, abdomen shiny black, under surface of thorax and 

 base of legs dark brown, the rest of the legs black. 



The abdomen has been flattened and, especially at its distal 

 extremity, distorted. It does not show quite so distinct an 

 expansion of segments 7, 8, 9 as does the male ; none the less 

 there is a distinct enlargement. 



The structure of these terminal segments is worth remark. 

 Segment 8 is about f the length of 9. Its lateral plates are pro- 

 duced ventrally and posteriorly into a pair of pointed spur-like 

 projections. The lateral plates of 9 have a similar arrangement 

 on a smaller scale. 



The ventral plate of 8 is long, produced backwards to the 

 level of the end of 9 at least, its posterior margin running to a 

 median acute angle. It appears to fuse with the ventral plate 

 of 9, which is produced backwards beyond the level of the tip of 

 the abdomen and has exactly the shape of a spoon, with the 

 concavity lying upwards. The ventral plates of both 8 and 9 

 have a median longitudinal keel. Segment 10 is so much 

 crushed that it is impossible to discuss it. The appendages 

 are small, and reach about to the level of the end of the 

 spoon . 



ISTeither in general organisation nor yet in the structure of the 

 wenital appendages does Metaphya appear to show particular 

 kinship with Idionyx. I figure (PI. lY. fig. 4) for comparison 

 with the terminal segments of Metaphya, an outline drawing of 

 the same pai-t of a female of Idionyx dohrni Kriiger from the 

 Peninsula of Malacca (Skeat Expedition). The anal appendages 

 of the male Idionyx distinctly approximate to the type found 

 in Macromia, whilst those of Metaphya, which I also figure 

 here, are very different. 



I have not been able to examine specimens of the Tropical 

 American Gomphomacromia paradoxa. In appearance, judging 

 from Martin's figure *, there are grounds for considering relation- 

 ship between it and Metaphya fairly close, Fi-om de Selys's 



* Martin, np. eit. pi. ii. fig. 9. 



