143 



Professor Germar,* Count Munster, and Dr. Hagen. To Dr. 

 Hagen we are especially indebted for making us acquainted with 

 the numerous gigantic Neuroptera obtained from this formation. 

 To Professor Oswald Heer we owe our knowledge of the fossil 

 insects from the Lias of the Swiss Alps. This indefatigable 

 savant, in comparison with whose labours in this particular branch 

 of science those of other palaeontologists sink into comparative 

 insignificance, has obtained from Schambelen about 2,000 

 specimens of insects, comprising 143 species. A most interesting 

 account of these insects and of the strata in which they have 

 been found is given by Dr. Heer in his Urwelt der Schweiz," an 

 English translation of which by Mr. W. S. Dallas, F.L.S., edited 

 (with some additions) by Mr. J. Heywood, F.R.S., has recently 

 been published. With the exception of one insect from the 

 Swiss carboniferous system and five from the Trias, these insects 

 from Schambelen are the most ancient in Switzerland, and 

 consequently possess great interest. Among the names of other 

 students of, and writers on, the fossil insects of the continental 

 formations of this period, must be mentioned Schmiedel, Schroter, 

 Esperm, Van der Linden, Van Buch, Von Meyer, Dr. Geinitz, 

 Marcel de Serres, Professor Bronn, Professor Pictet, Dr. Giebel, 

 and flerr Weyenberg. I will now review, as briefly as possible, 

 in the descending order of geological succession, the various strata 

 of this period, in which insect remains have been detected, and the 

 several orders and species to which such remains have been 

 referred. The EngUsh strata and their remains will be treated of 

 before proceeding to those of the Continent. 

 British Strata. 

 Flower Cretaceous or Neocomian. 

 In the Lower Cretaceous or Neocomian systein remains of 

 insects are extremely rare and confined, so far as present in- 

 vestigations enable us to judge, to the very lowest members ot 

 * Ueber die Versteinerten Insecten des Juraschief ers von Solenhofen, 

 1837. 



