OCR Text |
Show 1896.] ON DEAGONFLIES FEOM SOMALI-LAND. 521 3. On some Dragonflies obtained by Mr. and Mrs. Lort Phillips in Somali-land. By W . F. KIRBY, F.L.S., F.E.S., &c. [Eeceived April 21, 1896.] Two days were devoted by Mr. and Mrs. Lort Phillips during their stay in Somali-land to the capture of Dragonflies, and examples of six species were obtained. Five of these belong to the Libellulince, and one to the JEschnince ; and though three are common and well-known species, I am able to describe the others, which I refer provisionally to the genus Orihetrum, as apparently new to science. It is, however, somewhat to be regretted that I have only single specimens before m e at present. 1. PANTALA FLAVESCENS, Fabr. Dobar, Goolis Mountains, Feb. 4, 1895. A common species in most parts of the world, except Europe. 2. TBITHEMIS AETEEIOSA, Burm. Dobar, Goolis Mountains, Feb. 4, 1895. Bichen, Somali-land, Feb. 5, 1895. A common African species. 3. OBTHETEUM BBEVISTYLUM, sp. n. Long. corp. 38 millim.; exp. al. 52 millim.; long. pter. 2*7 millim. Male. Head testaceous, more greenish above, occiput dull orange above, with two black spots on each side; prothorax blackish, but marked with large yellow spots above and on the sides ; mesothorax and metathorax olivaceous, slightly pulverulent, especially behind, the former with the front carina and an incomplete shoulder-stripe on each side black; pleura with tw7o oblique glaucous stripes, bordered above with black; abdomen pulverulent blue, with some yellowish markings on the basal segments, which are considerably thickened vertically, central carina black; terminal upper appendages about twice as long as the last segment, very hairy, slightly thickened beyond the middle, and pointed at the extremity; lower appendage very broad, two-thirds as long as the others, and slightly upcurved at the extremity. Legs black above and slightly pulverulent ; testaceous below. Wings clear hyaline, even to the base ; membranule pure white, edged with black below on the bind wings. Neuration black; the front of the costal nervure, the lower ante-nodal cross-nervures, and the nodal cross-nervure for tw7o spaces below the upper antenodal space, testaceous. Fore wings with 11-12 antenodal cross-nervures (the last continuous), and 8-9 postnodals, the first 2 or 3 not continuous ; nodal sector distinctly waved; space between the nodal and subnodal sectors with two rows of cells towards the hind margin. Sectors of the arculus springing from a PEOC. ZOOL. Soc-1896, N o . X X X I V . 34 ' |