Dr. H. Woodward — On a Neiv Lias Imect. 195 



" At Strensham, about nine miles from Evesham, insects have been 

 obtained from a bed of Insect- Limestone at the bottom of a large 

 quarry. Amongst them M^as found part of the abdomen of a gigantic 

 species of Lihellula, w^hich Mr. Brodie named Libellula Hopei. In 

 the neighbourhood of Evesham the Insect-Limestone has produced 

 numerous remains of insects, the wings and elytra of many of which 

 are said to be beautifully preserved. In the lower division of the 

 Lias, in this neighbourhood, Mr. H. E. Strickland ^ discovered small 

 elytra of Coleoptera and portions of the wings of LibellulidcB. 



" From one quarry near Bidford, Warwickshire, Mr. Brodie obtained 

 a small species of the family Gryllidce, which he named Orijllus 

 Buchlandi in honour of Professor Buckland. 



" In some of the quarries in this neighbourhood (Bidford) the wings 

 of LibellulidcB were obtained, particularly at a place called the ' Nook,' 

 where a beautiful specimen was found, which has been described 

 and figured by Mr. Strickland.^ 



" Mr. E. T. Higgins obtained from the Lower Lias or the Rheetics, 

 in the southern parts of Gloucestershire and the adjoining county 

 of Somerset, in the neighbourhood of Bristol, numerous remains of 

 insects. From Aust, near Bristol, and from Sudbury on the Mon- 

 mouthshire side of the Severn, about three miles from Chepstow, 

 the Insect-Limestone and the ' Landscape-Stone ' have afforded a 

 quantity of remains. In some slabs the insects were found imbedded 

 together in masses. In one slab, Mr. Higgins is stated to have 

 detected as many as 30 small Beetles. 



" From the frequency of such delicate creatures as insects in the 

 'Landscape-Stone,' and in another band of Limestone, only a few 

 feet higher, some of which are said to be beautifully preserved, and 

 could not have been long subject to the action of the waves, it is 

 supposed by Mr. Brodie, that this part of the Lias may have been 

 formed in an estuary, which received the waters of some neighbouring 

 coasts, and which brought down the remains of insects and plants. 



" Coleoptera appear to have been abundant in the Lias, for out of 

 some 300 specimens, or parts of specimens of insects, obtained from 

 this formation, examined by Professor Westwood, more than one- 

 third were referred by him to this order, and included representa- 

 tives of the BuprentidcB, Elateridce, CvrculionidcB, CJirysomelidce, Cara- 

 bidce, TelephoridcB, etc. ' Most of the species appear to have been very 

 minute, never equalling in size,' observes Mr. Westwood, 'those 

 from the Stonestield Slate.' The other orders represented in this 

 formation are the Orthoptera, the Neuroptera, the Hemiptera, and 

 (possibly) the Diptera? 



" The remains of Orthoptera include Gryllidce and BlattidcB ; the 

 Hemiptera include Cicada and Cinneoi, and the Neuroptera, LibeUida, 

 Agrion, Orthophlebia, Hemerobius, Msclina, Chaidiodes and Ephemera. 

 Among these various families and genera we have omnivorous, 

 herbaceous, and predaceous species. Many of the families and 

 genera found in the Lias are common both to it and the Purbecks. 



1 Quart. Joura. Geol. Soc. 1846, vol. iv. pp. 14-16. 



^ Hee Mag. Nat. Hist. vol. iv. 1840, pp. 301-303, and woodcuts (New Series). 



