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



Williamson's paper, one of the most important contributions to 

 systematic and faunistic Odonatology that has yet appeared, has 

 made it possible for me to deal with the material before me with 

 greater confidence than would have been possible otherwise. The 

 number of species available for this survey is so considerable that 

 I consider myself exceptionally fortunate in having to deal with so 

 rich a supply of material. The sequel will show only too plainly 

 how much I have left undone, and how very much more remains 

 for the collector to do. 



From want of leisure I have omitted any study of the genital 

 structures of the second abdominal segment of the male, and for 

 the present I have not attempted any account of the larvae in the 

 collection. 



The Gomphinae are a very clearly defined group, not likely^ 

 to be confused with any other of the subfamilies of the suborder 

 Anisoptera, either in the larval or in the adult state. 



The larvae are essentially burrowers, living in mud, silt or 

 sand at the bottom of streams, either sluggish or rapid-flowing. 

 Fraser has given an account of several of the Indian species ' and 

 he makes the interesting statement that in the larvae of Macro- 

 gomphus annulatus ' ' the syphon-like end of the abdomen projects 

 from the mud and thus permits the easy inspiration of clear water 

 for purposes of respiration." Correlated with this burrowing 

 habit no doubt are other characteristics of Gomphine larvae — small 

 eyes, short limbs with two-jointed tarsi, short thick antennae and 

 relatively long abdomen. 



The larvae of Ictinus, however, have an almost circular 

 abdomen, with a flattened, disc-like ventral surface, which sug- 

 gests that they live under boulders and rocks in rapidly running 

 water. 



The adults though probably individually numerous, are not 

 at all gregarious and probably disperse themselves widely over the 

 country, resting high up in trees. Hence they are so usually 

 captured soon after emergence. 



With regards to literature bearing on the subject ; the follow- 

 ing is a list of the more important works consulted. It is not 

 exhaustive. 



E. de Selys I,ongchamps. 



1854. Synopsis des Gomphines. Bull. Acad. Roy. Belg. 



(i) XXI. 

 1857. Monographic des Gomphines. Mem. couron. Soc. 



Roy. Sci. Liege XI. 

 1859. Addition ait Synopsis des Gomphines. Bull. Acad. 



Roy. Belg. (ii) VII. 

 1869. Secondes Additions au Synopsis des Gomphines. 



Bull. Acad. Roy. Belg. (ii) XXVIII. 



I Rec. hid. Mus. XVI, pp. 461-463, pis. xxxiii, xxxiv (1919). 



