4 Records of the Indian Museum. [Vol. XXIV, 



Postnodal nervures to the forewing 27-29 ; stigma black ; Cu, 2 

 is 13 cells in length or less than half the wing length. 



Female. Abdomen 46 mm. Hind wing 35 mm. 



Very similar to the male but of stouter build, differing as 

 follows : — 



Wings uniformly enfumed. In the right hindwing ab is con- 

 nected to the posterior border by 2 transverse nervures. In both 

 forewings it is nearly confluent with the posterior border at its 

 outer part and the space between the 2 nervures can only be 

 detected with the aid of a strong magnifying glass. In 3 out of 

 the four wings there are rudiments of intercalated sectors. No 

 blue on segment 7. 



Segments 8 and 9 have blue dorsal markings shaped like a 

 German helmet with the top spike directed basalwards but not 

 quite reaching the base on the 8th. Segment 10 has the whole of 

 the dorsum blue. 



Ovipositor of great size and much more conspicuous than in 

 Indoneura. 



Habits. This species haunts the neighbourhood of mountain 

 streams but, unlike Indoneura, is rarely found on low herbage but 

 keeps to the shelter of overhanging branches at a height of 8 to 10 

 feet from the ground. 



The female is described from a single specimen taken at the 

 same place as the males, near Gudalur, I4'viii*2i. It was captured 

 in copula whilst ovipositing in water trickling over the surface of 

 a rock. 



Genus Protosticta Selys. 



In addition to Protosticta gravelyi I,aid. described in these 

 Records from Cochin and Kanara, I have to record three new 

 species from the Nilgiris, all closely allied but differing in mark- 

 ings and in the case of one species, in morphology. 



Two of these were found in company and all have the same 

 characteristic habits. They are found in the beds of rocky, 

 mountain streams, where they keep to the cover of the banks or 

 rocky boulders. 



In the dark shadows of the latter they may be detected 

 sitting with the body and abdomen held horizontally out and 

 almost invisible save for the chain of tiny white spots on the head, 

 prothorax and abdomen. 



When disturbed they hover continually with the abdomen 

 held rigidly out in spite of its enormous length and move forward 

 with a series of short, jerky flights. The females are found in 

 almost nocturnal darkness, small caverns amongst the rocks being 

 especially favoured by them for purposes of concealment. They 

 appear to breed in the patchy morass bordering the streams they 

 frequent. 



Sufficient stress has not been laid on the extraordinary morpho- 

 logy of these dragonflies. The enormous size ol the eyes and the 

 length of the abdomen are outstanding features and with regard 



