139 



June 14th. 



MR. H. GOSS, F.L.S., F.G.S., &c., ON "THE INSECT 

 FAUNA OF THE SECONDAEY OR MESOZOIC 

 PERIOD, AND THE BRITISH AND FOREIGN FOR. 

 MATIONS IN WHICH THEIR REMAINS HAVE BEEN 

 DETECTED." 



I do not propose, in this paper, to make any preliminary 

 observations on the importance of an acquaintance with fossil 

 entomology, or on the valuable conclusions bearing upon the 

 geological conditions of the earth in former ages, which may be 

 arrived at from a study of insect remains. Such observations 

 as I had to offer on this portion of the subject have already been 

 made, in the introduction to my first* paper, an acquaintance with 

 which I shall presume on the part of all hearers and readers of 

 this, the second, paper of the series. 



In the secondary rocks of this country, insects in a fossil 

 state are well represented. For our knowledge of them we 

 are indebted mainly to the Rev. P. B. Brodie, M.A., F.G.S., 

 who, as I before stated in my first paper, is the author 

 of the only hook on fossil insects which has as yet been 

 published in this country. In the determination of a large 

 number of the insects described and figured in this book, as well 

 as for some very important introductory observations therein, Mr. 

 Brodie had the great advantage of the assistance of Professor 

 Westwood, M.A., F.L.S. We are indebted to Mr. Brodie not only 

 for the very interesting and valuable work before mentioned, but 

 also for numerous important papers and notices on fossil insects 

 wluch have, from time to time, appeared in the " Proceedings of 

 the Geological Society," the "Quarterly Journal of the Geological 

 Society," the "Annals and Magazine of Natural History," the 

 " Proceedings of the Warwickshire Naturahsts' Field Club," and 

 elsewhere. Amongst the names of other contributors to our know- 



* See paper on " The Insect Fauna of the Recent and Tertiary Periods 

 &c.," read before the Society on the Sth March, 1877i 



