BRITISH DRAGONFLIES. 63 
appendix to a faunistic work. ‘T'he second chapter is devoted to the 
life-history, illustrated by several interesting figures, showing various 
forms of dragonfly ova, and the curious method of copulation. Then 
follows an account of the classification of the heterogeneous groups 
included under the name Neuroptera; and the author follows Brauer, 
Packard and others, in elevating Odonata to ordinal rank. He- 
divides them into two groups or ‘‘ superfamilies,’’ the Anisopterides, 
including the Libellulidae and Aeschnidae, and the Zygopterides, 
containing the Agriontdae. In two important chapters the author 
describes in detail the nymph and the imago and offers tentative 
dichotomic tables for the determination of the British forms; this 
part is fully illustrated and the numerous figures of structural detail 
will be of great value to the student. Then comes an account of the 
genera and species in detail, and the information under each heading is 
classified to enable the reader to find without difficulty any point 
which he may be seeking. Under Sympetrum jlaveolum, Linn., for 
instance, we find—Synonymy, Linneé’s original description, size, male 
imago, female imago, Immature colouring, variation, early stages, 
oviposition, egg, data, habits, migration, and distribution within the 
British Isles. We notice, however, that no account is given of the 
foreign distribution ; this would greatly add to the understanding of 
the relations of the various species inter se with regard to the European 
fauna. The author, after apparent hesitation, regards Sympetrum 
striolatum, Charp., and S. vulyatum, Linn., as distinct, the latter not 
being regarded as British. 
We congratulate the author upon his adherence to the strict rule 
of priority; he does not shirk from changing familiar names, e.7., Anaw 
imperator, Leach, for A. formosus, Lind. ; Aeschna caerulea, Strém., for 
A. borealis, Zett.; A. isosceles, Mull., for A. rufescens, Lind. ; Lestes 
dryas, W. F. Kirby, for L. nympha, Selys; Pyrrhosoma nymphula, 
Sulz., for P. miniun, Harr., though he does not follow W. F. Kirby in 
adopting Coenayrion for Agrion. 
The special part is followed by a chapter on breeding the nymph, 
full of interest, in which the author gives us the result of his experi- 
ence, as also in the practical chapter dealing with the preparation of 
dragonflies for the cabinet, a task which has deterred several students 
from attempting to make collections, owing to the unsatisfactory 
condition into which specimens usually deteriorate. 
The plates are excellent, as indeed would be expected, for Mr. 
Lucas is his own artist, and his talent in illustrating entomological 
subjects has long been familiar to all. We might suggest that in the 
figure of Ischnura elegans (Plate xxiv), the abdominal blue annulus is 
scarcely distinct enough. When this insect is feebly flying to and fro 
among the reeds that “fringe the small ponds which it loves to haunt, 
it is the bright blue ring which shows up the insect before it can be 
properly distinguished among the dark shaded rushes; ‘and in such 
situations, unless sought for,’ Mr. Lucas remarks himself, ‘‘it is not 
easily detected, its coloration being not conspicuous; ”’ the unfortunate 
blue ring, however, often betrays its whereabouts. 
The work is well printed on good paper, the binding 1s a little too 
dark for khaki, and it is the excellence of the ‘‘ get up’’ which has 
doubtless raised the price, a thing which we all deplore. 
Mr. Lucaz is to be congre atulated on the production of so complete 
