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it in his " Lepidoptera Exotica." I quote his description — 

 "Though a British insect, this species belongs to a group so 

 completely tropical that I do not hesitate to describe and figure 

 it in the present work ; its nearest alUes are the genera Calligo, 

 DasyopUhalma, and Brassolis, all three essentially tropical 

 American genera. P. Oolitica is especially interesting as being the 

 oldest fossil butterfly yet discovered ; the most ancient previously 

 known to science having been found in the Cretaceous series 

 (white sandstone of Aix la Chapelle)" (this is an error of Mr, 

 Butler's ; the insect was found at Aix in Provence, in strata be- 

 longing to the Upper Eocene period) " whilst the bulk of the 

 known species are from the lower Miocene beds of Croatia ; it is 

 also interesting as belonging to the highest family of butterflies 

 and to a sub-family intermediate in character between two others, 

 viz., the Satyr idoi and Nymplmli, whilst the more recently dis- 

 covered fossils are referable, with one exception, to the two latter 

 groups. The nervures appear to have been impregnated with 

 iron, which will partly account for their well defined condition." 

 Mr. Scudder, who states that he carefully examined the 

 original fossil, considers Mr. Butler to be in error in referring 

 this wing to a Lepidopterom insect, and is of opinion that it should 

 be considered Homopterous rather than Lcpidopteraiis, and allied to 

 Cicada. Mr. Scudder 's opinion is presumedly formed from a 

 careful study of the neuration of the wing and a comparison of 

 the neurations of Lepidoptera with those of Cicada. Mr. 

 Scudder's views on the subject are given at length in his " Fossil 

 Butterflies," pages 90-95, but time will not permit me to quote 

 them. Mr. Butler has himself directed my attention to the 

 neuration of this wing, and also to that of some of the Cicadce in 

 the British Museum Collection, and, from a comparison of the 

 wing with these insects, I am inclined to agree with Mr. Butler, 

 who in his view is supported by Professor Westwood and Mr. 

 Bates. It will be observed that Mr. Butler refers this wing to a 

 butterfly of a tropical species, which is quite consistent with the 

 general character of the large Neuroptercms wings and Bupredi- 



