262 FOSSIL INSKCT-WING FROM SYDXKY HARBOUR COLLIERY, 



and runs nearly parallel with the main stem towards the tip: it 

 sends a variable large number of branches sharply from below 

 towards the apical Imrder. Media and cubitus strongly reduced, 

 consisting of small branches. Anal field somewhat small, with 

 few veins. 



The hind wing is similar to the fore in respect of the structure 

 of the radius, media, and cubitus, but appears to lia\e undergone 

 a vast reduction of the subcosta, and to possess no precostal area. 

 Its anal field is large and fan-like. 



Stiff cross-veins divide the wing-areas into quadrilateral cells. 

 Most of the wings are spotted. 



It will be seen that, owing to the fragmentary nature of the 

 wing, many of the above characters are not available as tests. 

 On tlie other hand, the part preserved agrees very closely with 

 the definition. The small portion of the posterior border pre- 

 served is of some value to us, since it points to the fossil repre- 

 senting a forewing. For, in the hindwing, we should have ex- 

 pected to see, in this position, part of the anal fan which is so 

 conspicuous in this family, but which is evidently absent here. 



Handlirsch lists forty species of the family Elcanidce from the 

 Lias, and twelve from the Upper Jurassic. All but one of these 

 are placed in the genus EJcana Giebel, the only other genus 

 being Parelcana Handl I propose to place the fossil here de- 

 scribed in a new genus, Elcaiiopsis, with the characters given 



below. 



Order ORTHOPTERA. 

 Family ELCANID.^. 

 Genus Elcanopsis, n.g. (Text-fig. 1). 

 Characters of forewing as in Elcana Giebel, except the fol- 

 lowing : — Sc towards its distal end lies very close to C, not 

 nearer to R as in Elcana. Wing not spotted, but marked with 

 brown pigment along the costal space. Branches of Rs few in 

 number, and placed fairly wide apart. Cross-veins not very 

 numerous or close together. 



Genotype, Elcanopsis sydneiensis, n.sp. (Upper Permian : 

 Balmain Colliery, Sydney Harbour). 



The occuri^ence of an Elcanid genus in the Upper Permian is 



