easterly in Britain. Interestingly. C. virgo and C. splendens overlap in their range along
the Roman River, and can be seen flying together there. The species was seen at only
three other sites in Essex during the survey period. One of these sightings was a
singleton, near Basildon (Mr. Deremost. via R. G. Payne), in 1983. Another was two
females noted (on separate occasions) by J. Shanahan in 1983. These were on a
backwater of the Chelmer/Blackwater at Ulting. The third record was from the Old
River Lee near Waltham Abbey, where B. Eversham observed some half-dozen
individuals in 1983 (pers. comm.). G. J. White also saw the species at the same site in
1983. There have been no subsequent records from these or any other site in Essex, apart
from the Roman River. It seems significant that these sightings all took place in 1983. a
particularly good' Odonata season. It seems possible that in one or two instances they
may represent small colonies which are normally in such low density as to go
undetected. This is a particularly strong possibility as regards the Old River Lee. as this
is a long established site for the species, and the 1983 sighting was adjacent to a stretch of
the river inaccessible to the public. It is also possible that the specimens seen in 1983
had emerged from larvae swept downstream from a tributary to the Lee.
Calopteryx splendens (Harris, 1782) Banded Demoiselle
Calopteryx splendens occurs in relatively slow-moving streams and rivers - usually
ones with muddy bottoms. The females are less often seen in flight, and tend to settle in
thick vegetation near the river bank or on nearby trees or shrubs. The males flutter,
butterfly-like, over the water-surface, sometimes settling briefly on the water, or on
floating vegetation, such as water Crowfoot. They appear to be communal in habit, and
often occur in large aggregations, sometimes chasing one another in undulating
dances" over the water. Courtship in this species is also very spectacular, and there are
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