Maiic/icstei- Memoirs, Vol. Ixi. (igi/). No. *i. Kj 



pi. X., Fig-s. 5, 6 and 7). Alonsieur Pruvost has, and wc think 

 correctly, placed the forms described by him in Handlirsch's 

 genus PJiylloblatta. The genus was founded by Handlirsch 

 in igo6 (Handlirsch, Revision of American Pal3?ozoic Insects, 

 No. 1 44 1, Proc. United States Nat. Mus. p. 731) to hiclude 

 many species previously recorded by Scudder under the names 

 of Etoblattina and Gerablattina. Phylloblatta is one of the 

 best defined genera of the Archimylacrid group, with the fol- 

 lowing general characters. The wings are elliptical in form, 

 two and a half times as long as wide. Costal area narrowly 

 strap-shaped, and extending to three-fifths or two-thirds along- 

 the outer margin. Radius in outer half of wing with few 

 outwardly directed branches. Median vein curving down to 

 inner apical margin. 



Cubitus extending over the greater part of the inner wing 

 margin, and giving off a numerous series of straight twigs. 

 Intercalary venation rugose-leathery, or more cross-wrinkled. 

 x\ll these general characters are possessed by the tegmina of 

 the specimen now under consideration, and there can be no 

 doubt that the specimen is referable to the genus Phylloblatta. 



Of the nine species of Phylloblatta recorded from Com- 

 mentry and Lens by Messeurs. Handlirsch and Pruvost, that of 

 P. Brongniarti, Hancll., is so closely in agreement with our 

 specimen that no difference of specific importance can be recog- 

 nised, and we have no hesitation in assigning it tO' that species. 



Locality. — Commentry (Allier), Central France. 



Florizon. — Stephanian. 



Figured specimen in the Manchester Museum, Stirrup 

 Collection; Register No., L5,554. 



Phylloblatta obsatra, sp.n. PI. III. ; figs. 6 — 8. 



Species diagnosis .—\ied\d.n vein dividing beyond the 

 middle of the wing with few branches; diverging widely from 

 the radius. Cubitus large, with 5 — 6 oblique undivided 

 branches. Anal veins 6 — 7 in number. 



The body of this insect probably floated out upon the 

 water almost whole, and was not completely broken up before 

 it was silted over by mud. The specimen shows the greater 

 part of the pronotum, the two tegmina, and traces of two, 

 possibly three legs. The details of the specimen are more 

 obscure than is usual with the blattoids found at Commentry, 

 and the pronotum and tegmina have suffered loss. In the 

 former, portions, of the surface have been carried away, and 

 the latter have lost the outer portions of the wing margin. 

 A few traces of the hind wings show up through the tegmina. 



The pronotum is thin, circular, and was apparently slightly 

 convex, the hinder third covering the attachment of the fore- 

 wings to the mesonotum. Little more than the marginal rim 

 of the pronotum is left anteriorly, whilst the hinder edge has 

 impressed a groove upon the anal area of the wing&. 



