54 



BULLETIN OF THE NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 



mity of the segments of the body, show a low type of structure, 

 and an approach to the primitive insectean forms. A restoration 

 of one of these insects is given here, and the full 

 description of another (with a figure of the same) 

 is given on a following page. 



Perhaps a higher interest centres in the winged 

 insects of this early time than in the wingless 

 creatures described above. Among these air- 

 breathing insects none of the modern orders of 

 insects are present. Among the missing are the 

 Hymenoptera (bees and wasps), Lepidoptera 

 (butterflies and moths), Diptera (flies); even the 

 Coleoptera (Beetles) have not been recognized. 

 The remains found are all of such in.sects as go 

 through only a partial metamorphosis, like the 

 Orthoptera (grasshoppers and crickets) and Neu- 

 roptera (dragon flies, etc.) Among these fossils 

 we find examples of a family comparatively rare 

 now, but then apparently plentiful — the Phasmidfe 

 or Walking-Sticks. A gigantic May-fly, also, is known from 

 these early beds. 



The presence of a small scorpion, two little snails and some 

 articulates of doubtful aflinities serve to add further to the 

 variety of types of land-animals in these strata, and tell us of 

 the life of the world in Silurian times. 



The remains recovered from these beds consist of about two 

 dozen forms of animals ; and when it is known that with scarcely 

 an exception, only one individual of a species has been recovered, 

 it will be seen that the objects figured in the accompanying plates 

 represent only a mere fraction of the great number and variety 

 of air-breathing articulates that must have existed in Silurian 

 time, even at this one locality. The air must have been alive 

 with winged insects and the plants and ground must have teemed 

 with crawling creatures of strange and surprising shapes. 



Fig. 2. 



PODDRITES SALTA 

 TOR. Mag. 2. 



Restored. 



