56 



CHAPTER OF VARIETIES. 



Dragon flies. — In my remarks on the Dragon Fly, in your 

 Number for December, I named a few of the situations where this 

 splendid insect might be found, but omitted to observe that it may be 

 often seen hovering over stagnant waters in company with some other 

 insects, chiefly two- winged flies. This creature often becomes the prey 

 of insectivorous birds, although it possesses so rapid a flight. Last 

 August I was endeavouring to capture a very beautiful specimen, and 

 had approached a patch of lucerne where he was basking in the sun. 

 His numerous eyes, however, were on the alert, and he rose in the air, 

 moving his wings briskly with a humming noise, when, at that instant, 

 one of the many swallows which were skimming along the meadow 

 pounced on the unfortunate dragon fly, and bore him off in triumph. I 

 have ascertained the generic names of five species of the dragon fly, 

 which have come under my observation, and have subjoined their 

 haunts as I have noted them down. 



ORDER HIUROPTERA — GENUS LIBELLULA. 



S Found resting on a wall-tree in a garden 

 Libellula varia .....< • . . „ 



C at ±$nxton, Surrey. 



L de ressa 5 Situations enumerated, common in 



( Kent, Surrey, and Middlesex. 

 L. forcipata Cordulegaster annulatus, 4 Hawthorn hedges and sunny banks, 

 (Leach MSS.) . . . . ( Isle of Wight and Hampshire. 



On a lilac tree in a garden at Camber- 



L. Flaveola 



i well. 



_ Tr . . . f Banks of the river Stour, Suffolk, and 



L. Virgo (Linnaeus) / ~ , , 



° v ' \ Croydon canal. 



I have not been able to identify the L. cancellala of Donovan ; and 

 have only met with a single specimen of L. flaveola. The most 

 common of all these insects is the L. depressa. The female, however, 

 differs entirely in colour from the male, being of a brownish hue. The 

 larva of this fly has been made the subject of much observation*, and 

 differs considerably from the perfect insect, both in habits and appear- 

 ance, passing its life under water, but in an active state previous to its 

 emerging as a winged insect. The insect, both in its aquatic and 

 winged state, is formidable to its smaller brethren. Excuse mistakes, 

 as I am but a tyro entomologist. 



Sylvanus. 



Camberwell, December 10th, 1833. 



* See Insect Transformations. 



