BY R. J. TILLYARD. 415 



most of its time clinging to the stems and leaves of water-plants 

 and feeding on the tiny animalcula that come within the reach 

 of its labial mask. Unlike the larvae of the Libellulidae, it never 

 buries itself in mud or sand; nor does it often even rest on the 

 bottom, as do the Aeschnidae, preferring rather the dense floating 

 tangles of water-weed. In using the water-net I found invariably 

 that dragging amongst the water-weeds in mid-water yielded me 

 L. leda abundantly, but that other Agrionidae such as Ischnura 

 heterosticta, I. delicata, and Pseudagrion cyane were obtained in 

 company with Aeschnine larvae from the bottom of the ponds. 

 It would appear then that the larva-nymph of L. leda is a cleaner 

 living creature and avoids the mud and sediment at the bottom 

 of the pools. In captivity also they thrive better in clear water, 

 whereas the other species preferred the mud. 



When the larva-nymph wishes to change its position it generally 

 starts to crawl laboriously up or down the stems of the water- 

 weed. If this does not suit it will let go and begin to fall down. 

 Then suddenly it will project itself forward by expelling the water 

 from its body anally, using its caudal gill-plates much as a 

 swimmer uses his legs, opening and shutting them quickly with 

 each propulsion. By this means it generally rises to near the 

 surface, and having selected the spot on which it would settle, it 

 will turn head downwards, spread out its legs and open its gill- 

 plates to form a sort of combined parachute and rudder to guide 

 and help it in its descent. In propelling itself it does not 

 wriggle violently from side to side like the larvae of Ischnura, 

 but rather travels by a series of by no means ungraceful half- 

 twists, taken at intervals of about two seconds apart. It pro- 

 bably subsists almost entirely on tiny animalcula, for I have 

 found it thrive excellently in water unsupplied with anything but 

 plenty of water- weed. 



The full-grown nymph is a beautiful object, being both in 

 colouring and its graceful shape by far the handsomest Odonate 

 larva I have found in Australia. The beautiful green of the 

 body and the bright colouring of the caudal gill-plates distinguish 

 it from the other ugly and muddy larvae of the pools. The 



