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14 THE TAS1,1i\;>;IAN NATURALIST

Cbe Dragonflies of Casmania.*BvR. J. TILLYARD, M.A., F.E.S.

JI:l\RAGONFLlES, locally called horse-stingers, (though why is a.y mystery, s i n c ~ they possess no 'sting and are perfectly harmless)are found in all parts of the world, though lhey are most abundant andbeautiful in tropical countries, such as New Guinea, Brazil, and India.Upwards of 2,500 , species are known. England has 43 species, Europe16o, and Australia about the same number. The early stages are passe

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THE TASMANIA N NATURALISTmKreSCellS and Na1/1lOdythe1llis Dalei-are very rare; the former is ahout2 inches, the latter I inch across the wings. Of the vcry large species,Aeghlla brevistyla is common. It is a fine insect, brown, with green

s t r i p ~ s and spots, and is over -l inches across the wings. AustrlJaeschlla11111lti/,lIllctata is slightly smaller and more graceful, but black with brownspots. It common at Zeehan, and should occur in all mountainouscountry. Of the smaller species (AgrtiJ1llilae) often called' damsel flies:one cannot fail to notice the two common but exceedingly beautifulspecies of ischil1lm. i . heterosticta being bronze with bllle spots behindthe eyes, blue thorax and blue tip, while the tiny 1 de/ieat" has a redbody with a blue tip. Four species of '-cstes occur, slcn(ler blue insectswith forcipate appendages, of which L. a1/1/1I/(I'