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Show 64 MR. F. F. LAIDLAW ON THE [Feb. 4, bapta torrida, Orthetrum pruinosum, and Calothemis biappendi-culata. Others for the most part were caught playing round stagnant water. Rapidly running streams are invariably avoided except by Tyriobapta torrida. On the other hand, the ^ESCHNID^E are mostly found in the forests, any small stagnant pool is an excellent locality; the species of Gynacantha and Anax guttatus are sometimes seen in the open. The large species of the Gomphince are also forest insects. Thus my specimen of Sieboldms grandis was taken in the same locality (a small muddy pool frequented by wild pig) with two males of Amphkeschna ampla; this locality also yielded Pericnemis stictica and Lestes ridleyi. Another forest-haunting group is found amongst the CALO-PTERYGID. E. Vestalis amoena never occurs in the open, nor over rapidly running water : probably Echo and Climacobasis have similar habits ; they resemble Vestalis amoena so closely that they may perhaps be often mistaken for this very common species. The other Cdlopterygince are only to be found playing over rapidly running streams and rivers, and their beautiful iridescent wings add greatly to the charms of a sun-lit river-scene. Rhinocyjiha fenestrella sometimes forsakes the main stream for the shady rivulets that wander through the forest, but most of the species prefer the wider waters. The lovely Neurobasis chinensis wanders farther down the river perhaps than other species, but I have never seen it near the mouth of a river, or in fact after the stream had become sluggish and polluted. Of the Agrionince numerous species are found in rice-swamps : few make their home in the forests, amongst these are Pericnemis stictica and Lestes ridleyi referred to above, as well as one or two species of Psilocnemis, Amphilestes, and a few of the Protoneurous gi-oup. In many genera the females are exceedingly rare; this is especially the case with the Calopterygine genera Euphcea and Dysphcea. It has been suggested that the soberly coloured females do not attract the notice of collectors to the same extent as the males, and that hence they are rarely found in collections : but I can assert positively that in their own haunts the females are exceedingly rare; to the best of my belief, I saw only one, a female of Euphcea ochracea, which I secured. Family LIBELLULID^E. Subfamily LIBELLULINA (Species marked with an asterisk are not represented in our Collection.) *ZYXOMMA PETIOLATUM Ramb. Zyxomma petiolatum, Kirby, Cat. Odonata, p. 35. East Indies. Singapore (Ridley). |
