386 



ENTOMOLOGY 



of New Brunswick. The specimens, to be sure, are nothing 

 but broken wings, yet these few fragments, interpreted by Dr. 

 Scudder, are rich in meaning. All are neuropteroid, but they 

 cannot be classified satisfactorily with recent forms on account 



FIG. 295. 



Platephemera antiqua, natural size. After SCUDDER. 



of being highly synthetic in structure. Thus Platephemera 

 antiqua (Fig. 295), though essentially a May fly of gigantic 

 proportions (spreading probably 135 mm.), has an odonate 

 type of reticulation; while Xenoneura (Fig. 296) combines 

 characters which are now distributed among Ephemeridae, 

 Sialidse, Rhaphidiidse, Coniopterygidse, and other families, 

 besides being in many respects unique. These Devonian forms. 



'FIG. 296. 



Xenoneura antiquorum, five times natural size. After SCUDDER. 



attained huge dimensions as compared with their recent repre- 

 sentatives; Ger ephemera, for example, had an estimated ex- 

 panse of 175 millimeters. 



Carboniferous. The Carboniferous age, with its luxuriant 

 vegetation, is marked by the appearance of insects in great 



