Ch. Brongniart — New Fossil Insect from th e Coal- Measures. 101 



species. In both, however, the posterior portion of the wing is the 

 largest. To facilitate the description of the neuration, we will 

 divide the wing into parts, as in the living species. The total length 

 is 85 mm., and the breadth, near the middle of the wing, 32 mm. 

 The upper marginal nerve (a) is a little curved towards the middle 

 of the wing (Fig. 2a) ; the upper sub-marginal (b) is parallel to the 

 marginal (a), but straighter, and at the broadest portion they are 

 6 mm. apart. The externo-median (c) is 1 mm. from the upper 

 sub-marginal (b), and at the extremity of the wing it is distant 5 mm. 

 from it. The median (d) follows the same direction as the preceding 

 one, but it is more curved. 



A branch formed by the union of the reticulations, and which 

 becomes a true nerve, divides into two branches near the extremity 

 of the wing. The interno-median (e) is one mm. from the median 

 nervure, and at a distance of 13 mm. from the base of the wing it 

 dichotomises ; the upper branch, at 14 mm. from the margin of the 

 wing, is divided into two branches. The second branch of the 

 internal median, which is given off from the principal trunk at 

 14 mm. from the edge of the wing, separates into two branches, 

 the upper one of which alone dichotomises. The lower sub-marginal 

 (/), which is 2 mm. from the preceding one, divides into two 

 branches, the upper one of which subdivides again into two. The 

 anal nerve (g) is very short, and splits up almost immediately 

 into two branches; then, at a distance of 7 mm. from the base of the 

 wing, we see 14 straight and slender nerves, which alternately 

 subdivide into two branches near the ventral margin. All these 

 nerves are united by numerous straight and delicate reticulations. 



The wings of the existing species of Phasmians are generally 

 covered with colour-bands, either brown or blue, on a ground of 

 a lighter hue ; this was evidently the case in ProtopJiasma also. 

 We see, in fact, with the naked eye, darker bands which traverse 

 the wings transversely to the general direction of the nerves. In 

 the neuration and coloration of the wings, the fossil form resembles 

 most nearly the Phasma variegatum, Stoll. 



The habits of the Phasmians are but little known, but they are 

 vegetable feeders, whereas the Mantid^: are carnivorous. These 

 insects crawl sluggishly on plants, and feed upon the young shoots 

 of resinous trees, their habits are generally solitary. 



In the Carboniferous period we find evidence of the existence of 

 numerous trees of the family Coniferse (and Lycopodiaceas), such as 

 Sigillaria, Calamodendron, Arthrophytis, Cordaites, etc., all resinous 

 trees suitable for Protophasma. 



It is remarkable that the insects of the Carboniferous epoch appear 

 to differ but little from those which exist at the present day ; but it 

 is not in France, nor even in Europe, that we must look for insects 

 like those which existed at the epoch of the Coal-formation. It is 

 in the hot regions of America. Asia, Africa, and Australia, that we 

 find their homologues; and the Orthopter which we have just 

 described adds another example in support of this assertion. All 

 that we know of the Flora and Fauna of the Coal-period, proves 



