726 NEW AUSTRALIAN SPECIES OF THE FAMILY AESCHNIDAi, 



be placed in Planaeschna. However, considering its huge size 

 and the markings on the wings, it should perhaps be made the type 

 of a new genus allied to this group. The expanse of wings in 

 this insect is 144 mm., or close on 6 inches, making it one of the 

 largest known dragonflies and only second, amongst Australian 

 Odonata, to Petalura gigantea, which reaches 6| inches in expanse. 



3. PlanaeschnaC?) forcipata, n.sp. 



<J. Total length 67 mm.; abdomen 52 mm.; wings, fore 45 mm., 

 hind 44 mm. 



Wings : JSTeuration black; anal triangle of hindwings 3-celled. 

 Pterostigma 2*5 mm., black. Membranide, fore very small; hind, 

 l-5mm., brown. Nodal Indicator 22 16-18 Head: Vertex 

 small, hairy, black; central ocellus 15-16 16-17 brilliant, other 

 two black, smaller; antennae 2 mm., black. Eyes dark green in 

 the living insect; occipital triangle black. Front high, dark 

 brown, almost black in centre. Clypeus rich brown; labrum 

 black; labium and mandibles deep brown. Thorax: Prothorax 

 very small. Meso- and metathorax black or very dark brown 

 marked with five bright green stripes on either side, as follows — 

 the first humeral, short, straight, a small sharp point in front on 

 the outer side; the second subhumeral, longer, curved; the third 

 lateral, broader, reaching from the fore wing-joins towards the 

 mesocoxa; the fourth narrow, crossed by a black line at about 

 two-thirds of its length; the fifth sublateral, close to abdomen, 

 very broad, subtriangular in shape. Interalar ridge marked with 

 green; scuta and scutella green surrounded with black; wing- 

 joins black spotted with green. Underside dull brownish. Legs 

 black. Abdomen rather thin, 1-2 swollen, 3 much pinched, 

 4-9 gradually widening, 10 much larger than 9, cut off square 

 anally. Colour : 1, deep rich brown; all the rest jet black spotted 

 with a beautiful rich green as follows — 2 with four dorsal rays 

 in the form of a cross, not meeting in the centre; a transverse 

 ana] ring broadening on the sides, and a basal spot on either side 

 reaching to the spurs, which are blunt, green above and black 

 beneath : 3-7 with a pair of rounded anal spots : 6-7 have also a 



