214 



the hemiptera and homoptera are cicada ^f^lrchi■■'oni, large homopterous insect, 

 and one of the cimicidce. Among the newoptera we have hbellula Brodiei 

 and wings of other species often of great size ; orthiphlehia communis, a 

 common and characteristic species, and met with also in the purbecks, ashna 

 luis-ina, chauliodeg, wings frequent, ephemera wings not uncommon ; among 

 the diptera, asilus iunotus, and some entire small dipterous insects. Many 

 of the libeUuliil<F., were evidently of gigantic proportions, but most of the 

 insects were of small size, and like the associated jilants indicate a temperate 

 climate, and are more nearly allied to forms which now inhabit North America. 

 There are few extinct or unknown genera among them, so different from the 

 marine fauna associated with them. Aquatic or sub-aquatic forms prevailed 

 to a considerable extent. Some of the coleoptera were scylophagous or herbi- 

 vorous, others aquatic, some were omnivorous, and many predaceous, conse- 

 quently the land must have coutniued plants suitable to their food, and 

 imtftiiorous animals to devour them in their turn. Though the Saurians ani 

 Molluska indicate a watm climate, there is no proof of any ultra tropical heat, 

 and if we suppose the insects, which (exct-pting the gigantic libtUulvlcE and 

 larger chaulindes) belonged to temperate zones, to have inhatiited the higher 

 regions of a tropical country, such as the Himalayas and the Andes, and to 

 have been carried by streams into the ocean at greater or less distances from 

 land, according to circumstances, the apparent anomaly is accounted for and 

 seems the most probable inference.* Considering the vast numbers of the 

 insect tribes of the present day, the number hitherto recognised in a fossil 

 state is comparatively small, but additions are constantly being made, and in 

 time we may have a closer approximation to the actual proportions of the 

 annalosa living at the period. With the scanty record which the Lias affords 

 of terrestrial life, the insecta thus described are by no means to be despised 

 and form a really important addition to the history of that formation. 



A few words must be Siiid ia conclusion on certain limestones which in 

 Warwickshire and Somersetshire succeed the insect and saurian beds. Their 

 true position is undoubtedly beneath the latter, and thty are known in both 

 these counties by the name of the White Lias. Some geologists consider 

 them to belong to the Rlicetic seiies, others to be passage beds between the 

 Lias and the latter, while some stiU class them with the Lias. As they contain 

 some fossils which are purely Liassic, and others which are entirely Rhtetic, 

 it seems most probable that they are intermediate between the two and 

 should future investigations lead to the preponderance of Liassic forms over 

 the Rhcetic they would then have to be definitely classed with the foimer 

 or with the latter if the reverse. They occupy a considerable area in the 

 counties of Somerset and Warwick, where they are extensively used for 

 making lime, and being often close-grained and hard, make a useful material 

 for building. The colour of the limestones is mostly white, and occasionally 



* Professor Heer found insect remains in the lower Mas of the Alps, feut I am 

 not able to state tlie exact position in which tliey occur. 



