DICTYONETJRA HIGGINSII. 25 



Genus DICTYONEURA, Goldenberg. 



1854. Dictyoneura, G-oldenberg, Palseontographica, vol. iv, p. 33. 



Wing three times as long as wide. Base narrow, outer margin curving 

 regularly backwards beyond the middle of the wing into the wing-apex. Inner 

 margin rounded, and joining the apex in a blunt curve. Subcosta straight, 

 reaching the costal border in the outer third of the wing. Radius simple, parallel 

 to subcosta, and giving off a radial sector with few branches. Hinder branch 

 of median and first branch of cubitus uniting to form a " cubito-median Y-vein." 

 Anal veins with few branches. Interstitial neuration irregularly reticulate. 



Dictyoneura higginsii (Handlirsch). Plate I, fig. 1. 



1871. "Neuropterous Insect- Wing," Higgins, Proc, Liverpool Nat. Field Club, vol. ii, p. 18, fig. 15. 



1906. (Pal&odictyopteron) higginsii, Handlirsch, Foss. Insekt., p. 125, pi. xiii, fig. 6. 



1917. (Dictyoneuron) higginsii, Bolton, Quart. Journ. G-eol. Soc., vol. Ixxii, p. 46, pi. iii, fig. 2. 



1919. Sherborniella higginsii, Handlirsch, Eevis. Paliiozoischen Insekten, p. 25. 



Type. Basal portion of a left wing in counterpart ; Liverpool Museum. 



Horizon aiul Locality. Middle Coal Measures; Ravenhead railway cutting, 

 near St. Helens, Lancashire. 



Description. The wing-fragment lies on the surface of a greyish-purple 

 ironstone nodule, and has a length of 32 mm., with a greatest width of 22 mm. 

 The total length and width cannot be exactly estimated. 



Handlirsch, who named the species, did not describe it, and it is doubtful 

 if he ever saw it. It was first described by the late Rev. H. H. Higgins thus : 

 "A second and smaller specimen of insect wing was obtained by myself j and 

 referred to the genus Gorudalu. Mr. J. P. G-. Smith compared it with Fulgora. 

 A slight sketch of it was seen by Mr. F. Smith, of the British Museum, whom 

 it reminded of Oryllotalpa. Mr. Benj. Cooke, of Manchester, after a careful 

 examination, says, ' I believe the fossil represents the basal portion, about 

 one-third only, of the forewing of a Chrysopa, Goldeneye, or Lace-wing fly, or 

 rather Nothochrysa, separated from Chrysopa by Mr. McLachlan on account of 

 the manner in which the third cubital cell is divided.' This cell is remarkably 

 well shown in the fossil, and though I could only judge from memory, I believe 

 it is sufficient to settle its relationship." 



The "cubital cell" mentioned by Mr. Benj. Cooke is an elongated area 

 enclosed by a union of two of the main veins in the base of the wing. The 

 identity of the veins enclosing the " cell " will be considered later. 



The costal border is preserved for a length of 29 mm., is strongly curved 

 proximally and less so distally. It would seem to have been directed somewhat 

 4 



