104 



European forms, anJ he concluded from tliis that the geological 

 conditions of Aix during the upper Eocene period were similar to 

 those of the jiresent day. 



This opinion of ]Marcel de Serres, observes M. Oustalet, is 

 far from being in all respects confirmed by recent observations, 

 for whilst admitting that the fossil fauna of Provence contain a 

 number of types, if not identical, at least closely alUed to those 

 now inhabiting the Mediterranean basin, it also contains several 

 forms Avhich at the present day are only represented in the South 

 of Africa, in Asia, and America. 



According to the researches of Count Saporta, the fossil 

 flora of the period has a more southerly character than even the 

 fauna. From these investigations of the fauna and flora of the 

 period we may reasonably presume that the climate of Aix, at the 

 end of the Eocene and commencement of the Miocene period, 

 more nearly approached that of the tropics than at the present 

 daj-. 



One of the most remarkable facts connected with the Aix 

 formations, and which has perhaps served to render them more 

 interesting to entomologists than any others from which fossil 

 insects have been obtained, is that of the nine well authenticated 

 fossil butterflies from the European Tertiary formations, five of 

 them have been found here. Of these five species the first 

 discovered and best kno^vn to the world at large is Xeorinopis 

 Sepnlta, the earliest notice of which is given by ^larcel de Serres 

 in the " Annales des Sciences Natui-elles " (1S28). Mr. Scudder, 

 who has figured and described the insect, states that the earliest 

 definite mention of it is given by Duponchel in the " Bulletin 

 (le la Societe Entomologique de France " in the following words, 

 " M. Duponchel entretient en suite la Societti d'un fait extra- 

 ordinaire et peut-etre entierement nouveau dans les annales de 

 la Science, c'est I'existence d'une impression tres remarquable de 

 Lepidoptere fossile, qui a ete trouvee dans une platrifere des 

 environs d'Aix, et acquise liar M. de Saporta, &c." 



