417 



ME80Z0IC IN8ECT8 OF QUEENSLAND. 



No. 3. Odonata and Protodonata. 



By R. J. Tillyard, M.A., D.Sc, F.L.S., F.E.S., Linnean 

 Macleay Fkllow of the Society in Zoology. 



(Plates xliv.-xlv., and Text-fionres 11-16). 



Since the publication of No. 2 of this Series (4), Mr. Dunstan 

 has completed the delainination of the rock taken from the 

 Ipswich Fossil Bed, in the course of gathering together the 

 material forming the third collection (3) of these fine fossils. The 

 whole of this collection, with the single exception of the Coleop- 

 terous elytra, is now in my hands for study. Amongst the very 

 fine material received in the last consignment are two interesting 

 fossil Odonata, these being the only Dragonflies found at Ipswicli 

 since the discovery of Mesophlehia antinodalis Till., described \w 

 a former paper (2). 



The former consignment also contained a very fine fossil, whicli 

 is of such unique structure that it is not easy to place it in any 

 of the accepted Orders, either fossil or recent. This fossil has 

 been studied b}^ me for a long time; and I have definitely con- 

 cluded that it is best placed in the Protodonata, of which it 

 must form a new Suborder. The present paper deals with this 

 fossil and the two Dragonflies above-mentioned. 



Recently, Dr. A. B. Walkom, of the University of Queensland, 

 Brisbane, has published his thesis upon the Lower Mesozoic 

 Rocks of Queensland (5), in which he discusses very fully the age 

 of the Ipswich Beds. There can be very little doubt that his 

 placing of these beds as Upper Triassic is correct, and as such I 

 am content to accept them. It will be more and more evident, 

 as the description of the fossil insects proceeds, that they consist 

 of a definitely Mesozoic Fauna, not unlike that of the Lias of- 



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