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Show 1902.] ON THE DRAGONFLIES OF THE " SKEAT EXPEDITION." 63 2. On a Collection of Dragonflies made by Members of the Skeat Expedition in the Malay Peninsula in 1899-1900. By F. F. LAIDLAW, B.A. [Received December 28, 1901.] (Plates Y. & VI.1 and Text-figures 10-12.) In drawing up an account of the Dragonflies collected by members of the Skeat Expedition, I have thought it worth while to include in m y list not only the names of species represented in this collection, but also of all those which I have been able to find recorded as having occurred in the Malay Peninsula. It will be seen that the list is a fairly large one, although it is impossible to suppose that the full richness of the fauna of this part of the world has been as yet revealed. Noticeably this is the case with the Gomjihinos ; it is worthy of remark that our collection contained five specimens representing four different species, and that none of these were identical with any species previously found in the Peninsula. I have been able through the courtesy of Mr. Kirby to add to m y list the names of the species taken by Mr. Ridley, specimens of which are in the British Museum. I have to thank both Mr. Kirby and Dr. Sharp very sincerely for many useful suggestions and much kind assistance. Lastly, I have to thank the other members of the Expedition for their kind assistance in making the collection. I have given references in every case where possible to Mr. Kirby's ' Catalogue of the Odonata,' published in 1890, where full allusion to papers published before that date will be found. The following notes on the habits of some of the species collected m a y be of interest:- LIBELLULULE.-Almost without exception the numerous members of this family avoid forests and are to be found in flat open country, rice-fields, and clearings near the forests, especially where there happens to be a stagnant pool in the neighbourhood. Certain very common and widely spread species are to be found wherever there is a suitable locality. Such are especially Orthetrum sabina and to a lesser extent Pantala flavescens, Tholymis tillarga, Trithemis trivicdis, Trithemis aitrora. Certain other species with a very wide range in the Oriental Tropics seem to prefer the neighbourhood of the sea. Such are the members of the genus Ryothemis, also Neurothemis tullia and Brachythemis contaminata. The rarer and more characteristic species are only to be found in up-country clearings. The only species that I saw actually in the forests were Camacinia gigantea, Cratillu metallica, Tyrio- • For explanation of the Plates, see p. 92. |
