OF ARTS AND SCIENCES. 29 



with the result that more than sixty species have already been 

 identified, with the probability that others will be added to the 

 list as the state is more fully explored. It is hoped that through 

 the influence of the Manchester Institute all the species to be 

 found in New Hampshire may soon be identified and recorded. 

 As affording an admirable introduction to the study of this group 

 of insects, and for ready reference to convenient tables, every 

 student should possess a copy of Calvert's "Catalogue of the 

 Odonata — Dragonflies of the Vicinity of Philadelphia," published 

 by the American Entomological Society, at Philadelphia. If pos- 

 sible, Hagen's Neuroptera of North America, published by the 

 Government among the papers of the Smithsonian Institution, 

 should also be secured ; but this valuable treatise is now out of 

 print and can only be obtained at second-hand bookstores, as 

 chance opportunities may occur. For collection, a net and cyan- 

 ide bottle are indispensable. The insects should be carefully 

 examined and described while still fresh, as the brilliant colors 

 soon begin to disappear, and it is always desirable to insert in 

 every specimen designed for preservation a bristle, or some 

 other substance that is tolerably firm and at the same time slightly 

 elastic. A corn broom will be found to furnish excellent material 

 for the purpose. The student will soon learn to recognize the 

 more common species on the wing, and only so many individuals 

 should be secured as are desired for study and preservation. By 



■ reason of their usefulness as insect destroyers, no less than for 

 their beauty of form and color and grace of motion. Dragon-flies 

 deserve to be classed, in popular consideration, alongside o^ birds. 

 The identification of the Institute's specimens of Zygoptera, or 

 Dragon-flies with front and hind wings similar, included in the 

 family Agrionidae, is not- sufficiently complete to warrant their 

 consideration in the present paper. Attention will therefore be 

 given only to the representatives of the sub-order Anisoptera, or 

 Dragon-flies with wings dissimilar and held horizontally in repose. 

 This sub-order includes the families Aeschnidae and Libellulidae ; 

 representatives of the sub-families Gomphinae, Aeschninae, Cor- 



. dulinae and Libellulinae being found in our collection. Familiari- 

 ty with the limited collection now in the possession of the Insti- 



