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PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM, 



VOL. 43. 



boat all the way along. The specimens of dragon flies were identi- 

 fied on the spot, that there might be no fading of colors, and were 

 then shipped by mail. One large box, containing specimens from 

 the lower part of the river, was lost^ in transit. While a list of the 

 species had fortunately been kept, the exact localities and dates were 

 lost. These have been supplemented so far as possible from the 

 notebook, but there is still somewhat of a dearth of locahties from 

 the lower river, which did not really exist. 



For the opportunities thus enjoyed, as well as for permission to 

 publish the present paper, the author tenders sincere thanks to the 

 honorable Commissioner of the Bureau of Fisheries. 



LIST OF SPECIES. 



1. TACHOPTERYX THOREYI (Hagen). 



A male and a female of this large species were obtained near the 

 Great Falls of the Cumberland, one on July 5, the other on July 8. 

 The former, the male, was captured on the bank of the river; the latter 

 was 10 miles away in a sunny place beside the stage road and at a 

 considerable elevation among the mountains. Both were easily cap- 

 tured while resting, for there is no difhculty in approaching them at 

 such times, as has been noted by WilHamson and others. But while 

 hunting their prey they are strong and swift fliers, and their habits 

 much resemble those of jEsJina or Anax. From these and other large 

 species they can be distinguished, even while flying, by their brown 

 markings in place of blue or green or yellow. Many besides those 

 captured were seen while driving 14 miles along this same road. 



2. GOMPHOIDES OBSCURA (Rambur). 



This species was very common on the Clear Fork of the Cumber- 

 land River at Jellico, Tennessee, June 28, and a dozen of each sex 

 were obtained. Another single specimen was captured on the Big 

 South Fork of the Cumberland near Parkers Lake post office July 9. 

 Both sexes rest much of the time upon the sand on the river bank in 

 the bright sunshine. They are easy to approach and capture at such 

 times and are not as swift fliers as many of the gomphines. 



3. GOMPHUS VASTUS Walsh. 



One female was taken at the Great Falls of the Cumberland, July 6, 

 and a male and female were obtained on July 18 at Indian Creek 

 Landing, Russell County, Kentucky. The greatly dilated seventh, 

 eighth, and ninth segments and the bright yellow on the sides of the 

 ninth segment are conspicuous even in ffight. 



The species was common at least down to the State line between 

 Kentucky and Tennessee. It is quite active and the males are hard 

 to capture, since they persist in ahghting amid the brush near the 

 water's edge. 



