1879.] 173 



The fossil named Haphphehium Barnesi appears to have belonged 

 to the Eph erne r idee, and consists of a long* narrow wing, about three 

 and a half inches in length, so that the insect, when expanded, must 

 have measured over seven inches, and so have been much larger than 

 any living species of that family. Mr. Scudder says of it, " The ex- 

 " treme simplicity of the neuration probabl}^ places this insect among 

 " Ephemerina, although the form of the wing, and the reticulation, 

 " recall the Odonata. Other features of the wdng resemble the Odonata, 

 " and it is not impossible that Haplophlehium forms a synthetic type, 

 " combining essential characters of Odonataf and Ephemerina.'' 



Having now called attention to the Insecta of this period, I will 

 briefly refer to the other animals, and to tbe plants, which existed 

 contemporaneously. 



The Protozoa of the peinod are represented, as in the Devonian 

 age, by Foraminifera, remains of which, in some of the limestones, 

 occur in great abundance. 



The corals and sponges are the principal representatives of the 

 CoeJenterata, and the Echinodermata consist almost exclusively of 

 Crinoidea. 



Of the Artltropoda, the Crustacea include the Triluhita and 

 Eurypterida, which here make their last appearance, and also Ostracoda 

 and PhjjlJopoda. In addition to the Crustacea and the Insecta, the 

 Arthropoda of this period are represented by Arachnida (both scorpions 

 and true spiders) and Myriopoda, no traces of which have been met with 

 in older rocks. 



The Mollusca are most abundant in the coal measures, and include 

 Polyzoa, Brachiopodn, Gasteropoda, Tetrabranchiate Cephalopoda, 

 Heteropoda, &c. Of the Vertebrata, in addition to Pishes, which are 

 still principally Granoids, we find the first traces of AmphihiaX and 

 Meptilia.^ 



The vegetation of this period was most luxuriant, and in its 

 general character w'as similar to the Devonian, although but few 

 species are common to the floras of both periods. Amongst the Acrogens, 

 the ferns, the Lepidodendra, and the Calamites, were the predominant 

 groups ; and amongst the lower Orders of Cryptogams, some traces of 

 fungi or mushrooms have been discovered. 



Of the Gymnosperms, the ConiferaW were well represented, and 

 in rocks of this age we have the first recorded occurrence of Cycads. 



The Avenue, Surbiton Hill : 



^Oth November, 1878. 



* See plate xvii, fig ], p. 391, Geol. Mag., Sept., 1867 See also "A Manual of Palaeontology," 

 by Prof. Alleyne Nicholson, M.D., p. l>-6, fig. 129 : and Dawson's "Acadian Geology," p. 387. 



+ Dr. Dawson is of the same opinion ; see Geol. Mag , vol. iv, 1 s67, p '86. Dr. Goldenberg has 

 placed this insect in the extinct order, Palaodictyuptera ; Fauna Skr. Fossilis, ii, p. 5U, 1877. 



X The Amphibia of this period belonged exclusively to the extinct Order, LaOyrinthodunta. 



§ True reptiles were represented by Enaliosaurs or Sea-saurians. See Dana's " Manual," 

 antea cit., p. a41. 



II Some of their trunks exceeded 44 feet in height ; Lyell's " Elements," Cth edit., p. 473. 



