192 AXEL LEONARD MELANDER 



veins, while angular at the scapular vein, are prolonged to meet 

 the rather distant main branch of the externomedian. The exter- 

 nomedian vein arises close to the scapular and continues parallel 

 with it to the middle of the wing, when it is deflected downward 

 so as to terminate at a distance from the scapular and at the tip 

 of the wing. At the point of flexure it sends off a simple under- 

 branch. Internomedian and anal veins confused, probably simply 

 furcate and nearly parallel with the straightened and uninflated 

 hinder margin. The under wings are broader and comparatively 

 fuller than the upper, neuration probably nearly similar, but the 

 veins less crowded basally. 



Length 47"'°, length of head 5°"", of mandible 1.25™", of 

 prothorax 6™™, mesothorax 4.5™", metathorax 4.5'"™, abdomen 

 2^7 mm^ front wing 40™™. Breadth of head 3™™, of prothorax 

 3.5™"°, mesothorax 5.5™™, metathorax 9"™, fourth abdominal 

 segment 7'°'", eighth abdominal segment 6°^™, front wing S'"'". 

 These measurements are approximate. 



Both halves of an ironstone nodule discovered by Mr. William 

 F. E. Gurley at Petty's Ford, Little Vermillion river, fourteen 

 miles southeast of Danville, 111. This is the same locality where 

 Termes contusus Scudder and Propteticus infernus Scudder were 

 found. 



The metapleurse have burst apart from the notum in the 

 specimen, so that the hind wings are torn from their normal 

 position. Thus above the abdomen four thicknesses of the wings 

 are superimposed. From the narrowness of the fore wings we 

 might surmise that these early insects were not powerful flyers, 

 but flitted much as the damsel-flies or stone-flies do today. 



Judged by the shape of the wings, with their strong distant 

 cross-nervures, this form would be located near the genera 

 Woodwardia and Sphecoptera of Brongniart, and placed in his 

 family Megasecopterida. However, as this family coincides 

 more or less with Scudder's Hemeristina, which is defined in 

 more specific terms, it appears that the new form would be 

 incongruous with its fellows. The elongate prothorax, the out- 

 line of the abdomen, and the course of the longitudinal veins 

 more nearly correspond with the family Homothetidae Scudder. 



