XEROPTERA OBTUSATA. 85 



The lower wing-fragment shows a well-defined outer margin, evidently bounded 

 by the costal vein. This margin is regularly and broadly convex, and shows signs 

 of passing proximally into a straight or incurved line. The apex of the Aving is 

 narrow and bluntly rounded. The principal veins exposed appear to be portions 

 of the radius, radial sector, and the distal branches of the median. 



Affinities. Fragmentary though these wings are, they nevertheless present 

 features of unusual interest, as they are wholly unlike the blattoid wings found in 

 the South Wales Coalfield, and are as yet the only insect-wings found in the 

 Lower Coal Measures of the Bristol district. 



The resemblance in venation and structure to locustid wings is remarkably 

 close. There are the thin, sharply defined branch veins, and the division of the 

 interspaces into rectangular areas by straight transverse nervures ; and the 

 texture is quite filmy, apart from the incised veins, as in Locustidse. 



G-enus XEROPTERA, novum. 



Generic Characters. Wings more than three times as long as wide. Outer 

 margin feebly convex. Subcosta ending far out. Radius reaching almost or to 

 the wing-apex. Radial sector united by commissure to median. Median large, 

 forming two main, equal-sized branches. Cubitus simple. Interstitial neuration 

 of numerous straight cross-nervures. 



Xeroptera obtusata, sp. nov. Plate V, fig. 5 ; Text-figure 20. 



Type. A right fore- wing in counterpart in nodule ; British Museum (Johnson 

 Collection, no. I. 1558). 



FIG. 26. Xeroptera obtusata, gen. et sp. nov. ; diagram of venation of wing, three-halves natural 

 size. Middle Coal Measures; Coseley, Staffordshire. Johnson Collection, Brit. Mus. (no. I. 1558). 

 Lettering as in Text-figure 16, p. 62. 



Horizon and Locality. Middle Coal Measures (binds between the " Brooch " 

 and " Thick " coals) ; Coseley, near Dudley, Staffs. 



Description. The wing is not complete, the whole of the outer margin being 

 missing, or hidden by the matrix ; the apex is raggedly torn, and much of the 



