DRAGON-FLIES 



427 



in opinion as to which of the two should be considered the more 

 primitive. It is therefore of much interest to find that there 

 exists an Insect that shares the characters of the two primitive 

 subfamilies in a striking manner. This Insect, Palaeophlebia 

 sitperstes (Fig. 272), has recently been discovered in Japan, and 

 is perhaps the most interesting dragon-fly yet obtained. De 

 Selys Longchamps refers it to the subfamily Calepteryginae, on 

 account of the nature of its wings ; were the Insect, however, 

 deprived of these organs, no one would think of referring Palaeo- 

 'phlehia to the group in question, for it has the form, colour, and 

 appearance of a Gomphine Odonate. Moreover, the two sexes 



Fig. 272. Palaeo- 

 phlebia super stes. 

 A, The Insect with 

 wings of one side 

 and with two legs 

 removed ; B, front 

 view of head of 

 female ; C,of male. 

 (After De Selys.) 



differ in an important character,; the form of the head and eyes. 

 In this respect the female resembles a Gomphine of inferior 

 development; while the male, by the shape and large size of 

 the ocular organs, may be considered to combine the characters 

 of Gomphinae and Calepteryginae. The Insect is very remark- 

 able in colour, the large eyes being red in the dead examples. 

 AYe do not, however, know what may be their colour during life, 

 as only one pair of the species is known, and there is no record 

 as to the life-history and habits. De Selys considers the nearest 

 ally of this Insect to be Heteroplilehia dislocata, a fossil dragon- 

 fly found in the Lower Lias of England. 



Numerous fossil dragon-flies are known ; the group is well 

 represented in the Tertiary strata, and specimens have been 

 found in amber. In strata, of the Secondary age these Insects 



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