Bibliographical Notices. 347 
Picacho de Veleta some specimens of the extremely rare Linaria gla- 
cialis, Boiss., and several grasses, among others Trisetum glaciale, 
Boiss., and Festuca Clementei, Boiss. 
BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 
A History of the Fossil Insects of the Secondary Rocks of England. 
By the Rev. P. B. Broniz, M.A., F.G.S. London, 1845. 8vo. 
A REMARKABLE proof is afforded by the present work of the mode in 
which geology calls in to its assistance the different natural sciences. 
Few would have supposed that entomology could have been made to 
perform its part in the elucidation of the ancient physical history of 
our planet, but here we have a work presented to us in which beau- 
tiful representations, from the pencil of Mr. Westwood, of very many 
fossil insects are contained. Portions of nearly all the orders have 
been found. By far the greater number of the specimens consist of 
the wings and elytra only, but in some instances, especially amongst 
the Diptera, the insect is presented to us in a nearly perfect state. 
The fossils are derived from several strata. The first locality no- 
ticed by the author is in the Purbeck strata in the Vale of Wardour 
in Wiltshire. He there finds very numerous specimens and species, 
chiefly however confined to a thin bed of limestone. He remarks 
that “the remains of insects are so abundant, and present such a 
variety of genera, that we are in this instance forcibly reminded of 
the rich collection of these beautiful fossils in the more modern de- 
posits of Aix and Ciningen.” The Coleoptera seem to have been 
abundant, but very few perfect beetles were found, single elytra 
being of most frequent occurrence. Amongst them are species both 
terrestrial and aquatic, herbivorous and carnivorous, of the families 
Buprestide, Carabide, Curculionide, Chrysomelide, Elateride, Cantha- 
ride, Tenebrionide and Helophoride. Of the other orders, specimens 
of Orthopiera, Neuroptera, Hemiptera and Diptera occur. We would 
more especially mention a nearly perfect Acheta and very numerous 
Tipulide. 
We are next introduced to a few imperfect specimens, but appa- 
rently belonging to several genera from the Stonesfield slate in 
Gloucestershire, a numerous list of the other fossils from which is 
given. A few also occur in the Oxford clay and forest marble, which, 
together with the Stonesfield slate, are the only strata between the 
Purbeck and lias rocks in which remains of insects have been dis- 
covered in England. 
In part of the lower lias of Gloucestershire, a few thin beds of 
limestone are found to be richly stored with fossil insects; ‘the 
total number of specimens submitted to Mr. Westwood amounts to 
300.” He detected many Coleoptera of the families. Buprestide,. 
Elateride, Curculionide, Chrysomelide, Carabide, Telephoride, Dy- 
tiscide, Gyrinide and Melolonthide ; also Orthoptera, Hemiptera, Ho- 
moptera, Neuroptera (including several beautiful dragon-flies), and 
one species of Diptera. 
2B2 
