THE DRAGONPLIES OF THE CHESTER DISTRICT. 87 



Ischnura elegans. A small black-bodied insect with the eighth 

 segment blue. Sedgy ditches ; Sealand, near Chester. July. 



Agrion puella. Another of the small blue and black dragon- 

 flies. Common generally throughout the summer, on the long 

 grass and rushes of damp meadows, and by the edges of ponds. 



A. cijathigerum (the heart-spotted fay). Very similar to the 

 last in appearance. " The second segment of the abdomen of the 

 male possesses a heart-shaped spot." (' Illustrated Handbook of 

 Dragonflies'). Found throughout the summer, and in situations 

 similar to those frequented by A, puella. 



Dragonflies, in spite of a formidable name, are perfectly 

 harmless. Their capture, and, it may be remarked, their intelli- 

 gence, are matters which may be estimated according to their 

 size. Many of the smaller species (Ageionid^e) — the fairies and 

 fays — seem almost insensible to the approach of the collector, 

 and can often be taken by hand. The capture of the largest 

 species (iEscHNiD.E) — the sphinxes — is frequently a more difficult 

 matter. M. juncea is the most intelligent dragonfly I know. I 

 can conjure up before me a vision of a certain pool, on one of 

 the Delamere heaths, fringed with a margin of rush and sedge. 

 Here, in August or September, a couple of these handsome insects 

 — the intrusion of a third is at once resented by the male — can 

 be seen skimming up and down almost within reach of the net. 

 The word " almost " faithfully represents the narrow distance 

 between your net and the insect. But it is quite enough on the 

 side of the dragonflies. There they go, along and back again. 

 They are only some five feet above the water, and so close that 

 you can see every spot on their gaily decked bodies. Do not 

 strike until you are sure, for, if you miss, off goes the insect, and 

 you may see it no more. But here is a little point of only a foot 

 or so of bank projecting into the water. Let your insects get 

 thoroughly accustomed to their line of fancied safety, and then, 

 as one returns, stretch yourself out from the little cape and you 

 stop the astonished dragonfly ! Some species show, to a marked 

 degree, the faculty of curiosity. Quite half-a-dozen L. scoticmn 

 have, at different times, settled upon my net — apparently for a 

 period of examination and inquiry ! I always let these go in 

 return for their professions of fraternity. 



I use a common cane net with a bamboo or oak sapling handle. 

 The bag is about two feet deep, rounded at the bottom, and made of 

 the material known in milliners' shops as " Paris net." The 

 starch, or stiffening, is previously washed out in warm water. The 

 cane hoop runs through a calico hem at the top of the bag. The 

 whole instrument is so light that it responds to every action of the 

 wrist, and it offers the smallest possible obstruction to the air. 

 I prefer the white — for even if you are taking Lepidoptera, and at 

 night, you can always see your captured insect by holding the bag 



