26 Dr. H. Woodward — Fossil Insect from Coal-measures. 



The impression is that of the hinder wing of the left side of 

 a Neuropterous insect, the wing being fully 5 cm. long and 2 cm. in 

 breadth. The distal extremity is wanting, but from the scar left on 

 the matrix the lost tip probably did not exceed 1 cm., and the point 

 has been restored in dotted lines in the figure. At the point in the 

 figure marked by a '■•' the pinnule of a fern, Neuropteris, overlies 

 the wing, but, for the sake of clearness, has been omitted from the 

 drawing, and the nervures of the wing are continued by dotted lines 

 over the obstacle ; near the point of attachment to the body the 

 structure of the wing is also obscured. For the convenience of 

 description, small Eoman numerals, marking the principal nervures, 

 have been added to the figure of the wing (as used by Mr. Charles 

 Brongniart).^ The following is a brief description of the specimen 

 as far as I am able to define it : — 



Fig. 1. — Left posterior wing of Zithomantis carhonarius (?), H. "Woodw,, from the 

 Coal-measures, Foley, near Longton, North Staffordshire. I, the costal 

 nervure ; II, the sub-costal uervxu-e ; III, the radial nervure ; V, the 

 median ner\'Ui'e ; YII, the cubital nenure ; IX, etc., the anal or basal 

 nervures. 



The costal nervure (I) is strong, and forms the anterior margin of 

 the wing; it gives ofi" no branch. It is connected with the sub-costal 

 (II) by a series of very fine straight nervules.^ The costal and 

 sub-costal converge distally at about two-thirds of their length from 

 the body. The radius (III) runs in a parallel course for some 

 distance from its commencement below the sub -costal, giving 

 off a branch-nervure at III, s, one-third of its length, which, 

 diverging rather more as it advances, is again subdivided at 

 two-thirds of its length into three branches, the upper and middle 

 ones subdividing again into two, and these into two more 



^ " Eecherches pour servir a I'histoire des Insectes Fossiles des temps Primaires," 

 etc., par Charles Brongniart ; St. Etienne (Theolier et C'"), 1893. 4to ; pp. 494, 

 and Atlas, pp. 44, and 37 double 4to and folding plates. This accomplished 

 naturalist, grandson of the celebrated botanist Adolphe Brongniart, died at the 

 early age of 40 on April 18th, 1899, having, even in so few years, achieved much 

 splendid work in fossil entomology. (See Geol. Mag., 1900, p. 430.) 



^ These fine straight nervules, not being easily seen, have not been shown by the 

 artist in the above figure of the wing;. 



