THE 
A Monthly Medium for Collectors and Students of Natural History. 
Address of Office : 369, EUSTON ROAD, LONDON, N.W. 
Vol. 1, No. 3. SEPTEMBER, 1892. One Penny. 
OUR COMMON BRITISH DRAGONFLIES. 
E have in the British Isles as many as forty-five 
different species of these magnificent insects, in¬ 
cluding about a dozen of casual or accidental 
occurrence. 
One of the best known species is Platetvum 
depression. This curious creature can be distinguished at a 
glance from any of its relations by being in possession of a 
very flat, broad and depressed abdomen. The male is of a 
cobalt blue colour, the female being of an olivaceous hue. It 
is common in the vicinity of most ponds during the summer 
time. 
One of the prettiest species found in this country is Lepte- 
tvum qnadrimacidata , which has a blackish spot on the costal 
margin of each wing. The lovely variety Prcenuhila has in 
addition a brownish cloud or fascia near the apex. It is 
somewhat local, but tolerably common wherever it occurs. 
Orthetmm coevidescens is another familiar species belonging to 
the same family as the two preceding. It somewhat resembles 
P. depression in colour, but in size it is considerably smaller, its 
abdomen being also a good deal narrower. 
Sympetnim vidgatum is undoubtedly by far the commonest 
member of its family in this country, abounding almost every¬ 
where in the South of England, as well as in many other parts 
of the British Isles. A closely allied species, namely Sympe¬ 
tnim Scoticum is also plentiful on moors in many parts of the 
country, more especially in the north, and it is the smallest 
member of the genus to which it belongs. 
Cordulia cenea is a most magnificent creature, being of a rich 
