THE FLORISSANT I.AKK IIASIN. 29 



era of plants, it will appear that there are vast numbers ( .t' a single species; 

 a Lnvat nianv specimens are represented by bodies only, or these accom- 

 panied li\- insignificant fragments of wings, but even putting all these aside 

 there remain a goodly number with tolerably perfect wings, and some in 

 which almost every part of the body is preserved; taken as a whole, how- 

 ever, thev are perhaps less perfect than specimens of almost any other fam- 

 ily. There are a dozen or more Stratiomyidse, of t\vo or three species, and 

 several species of Midasid.-e or Hirmoneuridse, one admirable specimen of 

 the latter familv having been described as belonging to a new genus under 

 the name of I'alembolus tlorigerns. There are nearly half a hundred Asi- 

 lid:e and Theiwidie, many of them exquisitely preserved, some of great 

 si/.e, and among them a fair varietv of forms. Bombylidse are somewhat 

 less abundant, but show some superb specimens of great si/.e and in won- 

 derful preservation; there are certainly six or eight species. Syrphida v are 

 more abundant than the last, nearly fifty specimens having been found in 

 which the patterns of the abdominal colors are generally well marked, and 

 among \\hich we find a considerable varietv: they have been studied by 

 one very familiar with that group, Dr. S. W. Williston, and the results of 

 his examinations are given in his Sviiopsis of the North American Syrphida? 

 (\}\>. 281-283), published by the U. S. National Museum. There is a vast 

 ho-t of Muscid.-e and allied groups, of which no account has yet been taken, 

 and with which no doubt nianv other forms are still commingled, but three 

 or four species of very pivttv Ortalid;e ma\ lie mentioned with ten or a 

 do/.eii specimens, and there are a large number of Empidse. 



A few Lepidoptera occur. The butterflies, seven in number, have been 

 described in the Kighth Annual Report of the present Geological Survey. 

 The\- all represent distinct and extinct genera. Six of the seven belong to 

 the Xymphalidie, the seventh to the I'ierin.'e. Of the Nymphalida- all but 

 one are Vanessidi. The exception is of special interest, since it belongs to 

 the LibytheiiKe, the family of living butterflies the most meager in numbers, 

 though found in every quarter of the globe. To be able to add that still 

 an eighth butterfly, found since the others were described, belongs to a 

 second extinct genus of Libytheina- (which I have called Harbarothea) is 

 certainlv marvelous. Besides these 1 have set aside about a dozen speci- 

 mens of perhaps eight species of moths, but they are obscure, mostly of 

 small size, perhaps I'yralidae or Tortricid;e, and, excepting one described in 



