DRAGONFUKS AND DAMSE^I^FUES IN PONDI^ISH CUIvTURE. 



A pair of Enallagma civile was observed upon a bullrush stem in pond iD July 20, 191 7. 

 The female backed down the stem into the water for the purpose of laying her eggs. 

 When the water reached the male and he became half submerged, he released his hold 

 and perched on the stem above the water. But the female continued backing down the 

 stem until she was at least 6 inches beneath the surface. Here she remained for ten and 

 a half minutes actively ovipositing. Then a small sunfish, Lepomis euryorus, caught 

 sight of her and snapped her up instantly. 



The female Bnallagma often gets stranded on the surface of the water with her wings 

 wet and unable to fly. When he catches sight of her in such a predicament, a male will 

 fasten to her and try to pull her out. Such a rescue was witnessed in pond 2D; four 

 different males fastened to this female, but the adhesion of the water was too strong for 

 them. They could merely tow her along on the surface, each in turn giving way when 

 he became exhausted. But together they pulled her far enough to reach some floating 

 algse, onto which she crawled. Such chivalry deserved a far better reward than it 

 received; a small cricket frog seized and swallowed her while she was drying her wings. 



ENALLAGMA ANTENNATUM (Say). 



Agrion antennata Say, Jotir. Acad. Nat. Sci., Phila., 1839, p. 39. 



This species is rare about the ponds, and only a few specimens were secured; elsewhere it is often 

 found in large numbers and becomes the dominant species, as noted by Williamson (1899, p. 275). 



ENALLAGMA CALVERTI Morse. 



Enallagma calverti Morse, Psyche, 1895, p. 208. 



Only a single pair was secured from pond 4, the male of which could be recognized by the excellent 

 figures given by Williamson (1900, pi. i). 



ENALLAGMA CIVILE (Hagen). 



Agrion civile Hagen, Synop. Neurop. N. A., 1861, p. 88. 



This is one of the two most common species of the genus about the ponds, and its nymphs are found 

 in every pond. In 1915 this species and Ischmira -verticalis constituted the bulk of the damsel fauna of 

 the ponds, but in 1916 there were fully as many of the species hageni as of civile. 



Williamson stated (1899, p. 270) that old individuals of civile often have the wings milky or gray 

 and the pterostigma bluish or pruinose, and this was noted in several specimens collected in September, 

 1915. Both the imagos and the nymphs take an active part in the life of the ponds, serving as food for 

 fish and dragonflies. 



ENALLAGMA EBRIUM (Hagen). 



Agrion ebrium Hagen, Synop. Neurop. N. A., 186 1, p. 89. 



Moderately abundant around the ponds and found in company with other species of the genus, 

 which it very much resembles in habits and appearance. The nymphs were more abimdant than the 

 imagos and were found especially in ponds i, 2, 3, and 4. They are just the right size to furnish good 

 food for young fishes. 



ENALLAGMA GEMINATUM Kellicott. 



Enallagma geminatum Kellicott, Etom. News, vol, 6, 1895, p. 239. 



This is the smallest and most slender of the genus that frequents the ponds, but is also the most active, 

 flying about restlessly over the water, often a long distance from the shore. It has the habit of sticking 

 close to the surface of the water and alighting only on floating algae, which renders it difficult to capture. 



ENALLAGMA HAGENI (Walsh). 



Agrion hageni Walsh, Proc. Entomol. Soc, Phila., vol. 2, 1863, p. 234. 



This species, with civile and Ischnura verticalis, makes up 90 per cent of the damselfly life in and 

 around the ponds. They are found everywhere in the vegetation near the ponds and often wander long 



