98 Ch. Brongniart — New Fossil Insect from the Coal- Measures. 



I am indebted to my friend, M. Grand'Eury, for the oppor- 

 tunity of adding a new form to the running Orthoptera hitherto 

 described. 1 



It was obtained from the Upper Coal-measures of Commentry, 

 Allier. 



I ought at the same time to describe several other fossil Articulata 

 from St.-Etienne, which this able palaeontologist has procured for 

 me, but the very perfect state of preservation in which this fossil 

 has been found, and the interest of its zoological affinities, induces 

 me to make it known immediately. 



The fossil is sufficiently well preserved to be seen, as represented 

 in our Plate, without the aid of a magnifying glass, and we at onoe 

 recognize an Orthopterous insect allied to the Pliasmidce, from which 

 it differs, however, by certain characters to be presently referred to. 



It is the first example of this family which has been obtained in 

 a fossil state. On the intaglio one observes a brownish matter, 

 which is darker in some places, and probably represents the sub- 

 stance of the integument. 2 



This magnificent Orthopter is preserved in profile lying on its 

 right side, and every portion of its body except the abdomen is 

 preserved. One can see (even with the naked eye) the limbs with 

 their serrated margins ; the head, the eye, the antennas, and the 

 palpi, lastly the elytra, of which one is very well preserved, and 

 the fine second pair of wings, both of which are almost entire. 



The Phasmidce have been carefully studied by MM. Audinet- 

 Serville, Westwood, and Gray. The last of these authors divides 

 the " Spectres " into two great groups ; the Apterophasmina, or wing- 

 less Phasmians, and the Pterophasmina, or winged Phasmians. 



The Orthoptera included in the family of the PHASMiDiE have very 

 different forms. Some have the antennas very long, and very slender 

 (Phasma) ; others have them on the contrary short and very robust 

 (CypJiocrana). One has the pro thorax very short (Phasma) ; with 

 others it is longer (Prisopus). Lastly, certain genera have the legs 

 smooth and destitute of spines (Phasma) ; in others, on the contrary, 

 they are very angular and serrated (Diura, Gray, Cyphocrana) . 



I shall not speak of the other genera, as they have no points of 

 resemblance with our fossil, but proceed to compare it with the 

 groups above cited in the latter part of my report. 



I dedicate this beautiful Orthopter to my uncle, M. J. B. Dumas, 

 Member of the Academy of France, and Perpetual Secretary of the 

 Academy of Sciences. 



they have no relations to the Hemiptera. They are, I believe, the wings of 

 Neuroptera, which probably belong to the genus Chauliodes, of Westwood. (See 

 J. 0. AVestwood, " Oriental Entomology," Chauliodes subfasciatus, p. 70, pi. '64, 

 Fig. 5.) 



1 This fossil was discovered by M. Fayol, Engineer, in a bed of compact 

 micaceous shale of the Upper Coal-measures of Commentry (Allier), in the Forest- 

 pit, at 5 metres 50 from the top of the great Coal. 



2 An analogous observation has been made on fossil plants ; one has noticed the 

 impressions of leaves in the Coal-measures, in particular the leaves of Ferns which 

 could be detached from the surface of the shale and examined separately. 



