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slabs the insects were found embedded together in masses. In 

 one slab Mr. Higgins is said to have detected as many as thirty 

 small beetles. From the frequency of such dehcate creatures as 

 insects in the "Landscape Stone," and in another band of 

 limestone only a few feet higher, some of -which are said to be 

 beautifully preserved, and could not have been long subject to the 

 action of the waves, Mr. Brodie supposes that this part of the 

 Lias may have been foimed in an estuary, which received the 

 waters of some neighbouring coasts, and which brought down 

 the remains of insects and plants. The Coleoptem appear to have 

 been abundant in the Lias, for out of some three hundred 

 specimens of insects, or parts of specimens, from this formation, 

 examined by Professor Westwood, more than one-third were 

 referable to this order, and comprised the families Bup-estidce, 

 Elateridee, Curculionidce, Chrysomelidoe, Carahidce, Telephoridce, &c. 

 Most of the species appear to have been very minute, "never- 

 equalling," observes Mr. Westwood, " in size those from the 

 Stonefield Slate." 



The other orders represented in this formation are the 

 Oiiho]gtera, the Neuroptera, the Hemiptera, and the Diptera ; 

 the minute Diptera and Tricliopterch of the Purbecks are said by 

 Westwood to be absent. The remains of Ortlwptera include 

 Gh-yUidce and Blattidm, the Hemiptem include Cicada and Cimex, and 

 the Neuroptera, lAbellula, Agrion, OrthopMcbia, Remerohiiis, (Eshna, 

 Chauliodes, and Ephemera. Among these various families we have 

 terrestial and fluviatile genera, which include omniverous,. 

 herbaceous, and predaceous species. A great number of the 

 famiUes and genera found in the Lias are common both to it and 

 the Purbecks. The following Lias insects, however, have not, I 

 believe, been found in the Purbecks, viz., Cryrinus, LaccophiluSy. 

 Berosas, Melolontlui, Teleplwridm, Gryllidce, Agrion, Hemerohius, 

 Ephemera and Asilus. Although, as a rule, the remains of insects 

 from this formation are very imperfect and fragmentary, the 

 detached wings of many Neuropterous insects are said to be 

 preserved in the greatest perfection, and have the nervures of the 



