Beviews — Dr. C. Brongniarf s Brimary Fossil Insects. 235 



bear in mind, that nearly all these insects surpass in size their 

 living representatives." Several families are included in this order, 

 among which are the Protephemerida, whose neuration recalls that 

 of the living Ephemerida (May-flies), of which they may be con- 

 sidered the precursors; and the Platypterida, of which the genus 

 Lamproptilia contains two species of large size, whose span of wing 

 attained some seven to eight inches, and what is also remarkable, 

 the wings bear evidence of having been richly coloured and 

 ornamented by rounded spots. 



The family Protodonata comprises species which may be con- 

 sidered as the predecessors or ancestors of living Libellulffi (Dragon- 

 flies). These ancient types were often of gigantic size ; one species, 

 of which we have a superb restoration figured in the atlas, measured 

 about 70 centimetres or 28 inches in the spread of wing, giving one 

 a lively idea of these aerial giants of other days. 



The family Protoperlida resembles the actual Perlida, whose larval 

 state is passed in the water, and while in that condition their food 

 is the larv£e of May-flies and other insects. All the foregoing are 

 insects with incomplete metamorphoses and whose larvas live in 

 the water. 



In the order Orthoptera Dr. Brongniart has placed all those 

 fossil insects which resemble living species of the order. Thus, 

 among the Carboniferous insects he identifies species which can be 

 approximated to several existing families, such as the Blattidas, the 

 Locustidge, the Acrididas, and the Phasmidee. 



That these early precursors of the Blattidae, our familiar Cock- 

 roaches, were a numerous and widely distributed family in the 

 forests of the Carboniferous epoch may be predicated from the fact 

 of their remains having been found in most of the European and 

 American Coal-fields ; but in no locality have they been met with 

 in the same abundance and perfection as at Commeutry, where nearly 

 a thousand specimens have been collected by M. Fayol. 



The Proto]ocustida3, of which numerous remains have been found, 

 appear to have so close a relationship to our living Locusts or Grass- 

 hoppers, not only in the form and neuration of the wings but also 

 in the characters of other parts of the body, that they seem, in 

 M. Brongniart's opinion, scarcely to have required being placed in 

 a distinct family. 



The Acrididse or Cricket family was also represented by numerous 

 individuals, two genera of which have been distinguished. 



Coming to the last order discussed by the author, the Homoptera, 

 of which there are but few representatives at Commentry, and these 

 differing in several characters from existing types, have been referred 

 to the group Fulgorina. 



It will be noted that in this summary of the fossil insects of the 

 Carboniferous rocks, no mention has been made of the Coleoptera 

 or Beetles, although certain insect borings found in fossilized wood 

 have been ascribed to them. Had, however, beetles existed at 

 this remote epoch, it would be natural to expect other authentic 

 indications of their presence than mere borings ; such, for example, 



