124 I November, 



INTRODUCTORY PAPERS OX FOSSIL ENTOMOLOGY. 

 BY HEEBEET GOSS, F.L.S., F.G.S. 



No. 9. 

 Gainozoic Time. 

 [0?i tlie Insecta of the Eocene Period, and the animals and plants 

 with which they loere correlated.'\ 



Witb the Eocene Period commences a new epocli in geological 

 history, which is separated from the preceding by an immeasurable 

 lapse of time. In Europe* there is a complete break between the 

 rocks of the Mesozoic and Cainozoic Ages ; in no instance have rocks 

 of the latter Age been found resting conformably on those of the 

 former ; and the separation between the animal life of the Cretaceous 

 and Eocene Periods is most distinctly marked, scarcely any species 

 being common to both. 



At the opening of the new era, the Reptilia — multitudes of which 

 disappeared before and about the close of the Cretaceous Period — still 

 further declined both in number and size of species, and the Mammalia 

 became the dominant race. With the rapid development of dicoty- 

 ledonous plants, the Insecta increased in abundance, and Orders which 

 in the preceding Age had been sparingly represented, were now 

 thoroughly established. 



Great Britain. 

 Lower Eocene. 

 A few elytra of Goleoptera have been obtained from the London 

 clay in various parts of the Isle of Wight,t and remains of insects 

 of the same Order have also been discovered at Peckham. The remains 

 last mentioned were referred to Dr. Henry AV^oodward, and by him 

 submitted to the late Mr. Frederick Smith, who detected amongst 

 them elytra of Gurcidionidce and ElateridcB. 



Iliddle Eocene. 



In 1854 Prof. AV^estwood described and figured several Goleoptera 

 obtained from the leaf-beds of Creech, near Corfe, Dorset, including 

 Biprestidce, Gurcidionidce, and Ilelopidce. 



In the course of the last three or four years, Mr. John Starkie 

 Gardner, Mr. AVanklyn, and others, have discovered numerous fossil 

 insects in the Bournemouth leaf-beds, belonging to the Orders 



* In North America the line of demarcation between the Upper Cretaceous Rocks and the 

 lowest of those of the Tertiary Age is not so clearly defined, 

 t Quar. Jour. Geol. Soc, 1853, pp. .53, 54. 

 t The Geologist, for Jan., 1861, pp. 39, 40 ; and the Quar. Jour. Geol. Soc, vol. x, pp. 378-396. 



