176 Evolution and Distribution of Fishes 



rus and Peltopleiinis were abundant, while the last four 

 were destined to become increasingly rich in species, special- 

 ly from the Rhaetic to the Liassic beds above. They all 

 swarmed in, and were confined to, the lakes and swamps of 

 the continental areas of the time. 



The freshwater phyllopod Estheria minuta^ along with 

 allied Entomostraca, teemed in quiet waters of ponds or 

 pools, a fairly rich insect-life is indicated, though the ab- 

 sence as yet of colored flowers and of succulent fruits, gave 

 little occasion for the evolution of other than orthopterous, 

 neuropterous and hemipterous genera. Limulus^ as repre- 

 senting a condensed and modified derivative genus from 

 the once abundant eurypterids, was led up to by the curious- 

 ly intermediate Permian genus Prestwichia, but is still like 

 them of freshwater habitat. 



In examining first the set of British rocks, it can be said 

 that a recognition of the freshwater character of such 

 strata as above mentioned has been repeatedly voiced by 

 not a few geologists. Thus in a joint paper by Newton and 

 Brodie {i2g: 537), after referring to "the unique specimen 

 of Dipteronotus cyphiis from the Bunter of Bromsgrove," 

 the former author describes a new species as Semionotus 

 brodiei, and Brodie notes that his son obtained Palaeonis- 

 ciis {Dictyopyge as now viewed) superstes and a Semi- 

 onotus. On the slate on which the first specimens were 

 found were two impressions of footsteps of a large labyrin- 

 thodont. He then adds, "a similar stratum, with similar 

 fossils, occurs at several localities in Worcestershire. Foot- 

 prints of labyrinthodonts, generally of small size, are 

 occasionally found on the surface of the sandstones, and 

 at Rowington remains of plants in a very imperfect condi- 

 tion, among which is Voltzia in fructification, and some 

 small fruits resembling the Jurassic Carpolithus so-called." 



Further on he notes the abundance of Estheriae in beds 

 of the Waterstones, and adds: "The Waterstones are 

 famous for the number (comprising nine genera) of sala- 

 mandroid batrachians, a large number and variety of which 

 have been found at Warwick, Leamington, and Coventry; 

 and a unique collection is preserved in Warwick museum." 



