194 THK ENTOMOLOGIST. 



families, and genera, but in many instances — from the 

 nature of the matrix in which they liave been embedded, or 

 the circumstances under which their deposition and petrifi- 

 cation took place — they have been so perfectly preserved as 

 to enable an entomologist to pronounce with some degree of 

 certainty as to the species to which ihey belonged. 



The Coleoptera are, of course, from their nature, much 

 more capable of resisting the effects of air and water than 

 insects of other classes; but even the delicate wings of 

 Neuroptera, Hymenoptera, and Diptera, are sometimes 

 preserved in great periection. From the fragmentary and 

 imperfect slate, however, of many fossil insects, it is evident 

 that they have not all been embedded under similar 

 conditions, or under circumstances equally favourable to 

 their preservation ; and numbers have, prior to their 

 deposition and subsequent petrification, apparently been 

 blown about by winds, or remained ibr years soddening in 

 water. That insects are capable of resisting for a lengthened 

 period tlie effects of air and water has been proved by 

 actual experiment; and Dr. Hagen states that he has kept 

 the wings of dragonflies in water for years without observing 

 the slightest change in their texture. 



In the course of last year and the year before last, Mr. 

 John Starkie Gardner, F.G.S., who is studying the fossil flora 

 of the Bournemouth leaf beds, belonging to the Bagshot 

 Sands (Middle Eocene), discovered numerous fossil insects 

 in these beds, associated with the plant remains which 

 were the especial objects of his search. These insects, 

 which Mr. Gardner has been good enough to lend me for 

 examination, are principally Coleoptera {Curcu Hon idee, 

 Bupres/idce, &c.) and Neuroptera. Amongst the remains of 

 the last named order, the best preserved and most interesting 

 specimen is the light fore wing (figured above) of a species 

 of LibeUu/idce. On first examining this fossil I was doubtful 

 whether to refer it to tlie genus Lihellula or the j^enus 

 /Esdiuo ; but Mr. C. O. Waterhouse, after carefully examining 

 it and comparing it with specimens of existing species of 

 Libellulida; in the collection of the British Museum, decided 

 that it belonged to the genus last named {^scJina). It 

 will be seen from the figure that the wing is in a very fine 

 state of preservation, its delicate reticulation being as perfect 

 as that of a living dragonfly. 



The species to which this dragonfly belonged has doubtless 

 beau long extinct ; and its nearest living allies would probably 



