382 PROCEEDINGS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. [May 10, 



thirds of its length, and then gradually attenuated ; the surface is 

 now nearly smooth, but it may probably have been originally punc- 

 tured and subsequently abraded. This specimen may belong to the 

 HeJopidce. 



The third elytron, represented in PI. XVI. fig. 35, is 3 lines long ; 

 oval ; very convex ; marked with seven rows of very deep round 

 punctures, the lateral rows rubbed down, and bearing a subsutural 

 row of small tubercles. This belonged most probably to one of the 

 Curculionida;. 



A fourth object, which may possibly not be an insect remain, is 

 2 lines long, very oval and convex, with a granulated surface, partly 

 abraded. It has, however, somewhat the appearance of the elytron 

 of a very gibbose beetle of the family of ChrysomelidcB or Curcu- 

 lionidce. 



V. Insect? Remains from the Hastings Sands. 



The Rev. Mr. Brodie has forwarded me four specimens, found by 

 Mr. "W. R. Brodie in the Hastings Sands of Swanage Bay, which are 

 of doubtful character. The first has the appearance of an elytron, 

 ■i- inch long, and nearly 3 lines wide for three-fifths of its length, and 

 then gradually attenuated ; the surface smooth, but with a deep 

 longitudinal, possibly accidental, impression from the base. The 

 second and third are small dark patches of membrane upon the 

 surface of the stone, which are traversed by straight longitudinal 

 veins emitting parallel branches ; but as in the larger specimen the 

 veins radiate nearly from a point, somewhat like the ribs of a fan, I 

 should rather regard them as vegetable. The fourth has the ap- 

 pearance of a small semi-oval elytron, 2 hues long ; but the surface is 

 irregularly longitudinally rugose, like that of the hard seed-vessels 

 of some fruits. 



VI. Fossil Insects from the Middle Purbecks of Dorset*. 

 PI. XV. figs. 6 to 26. 



A large coUectiou of Insect-remains, consisting of 118 small slabs, 

 of various sizes, some containing many specimens, has been made by 

 the Rev. Mr. Brodie from the top of the Middle Purbecks of Dur- 

 dlestone Bay, Dorset. They are chiefly from the " Pecten and Cor- 

 bida bed," No. 31 of the stratigraphical list in Mr. Austens 

 ' Guide to the Geology of the Isle of Purbeck ' ; but a few are from 

 the bed No. 58. They are of a hard blue slaty calcareous rock. 



The most remarkable of these Insect-remains are represented in 

 Plate XV. figs. 6-26. 



Elytra and Bodies. — The greater portion of these remains con- 

 sist of small elytra, perfect or fragmentary, or of entire bodies or 

 parts of bodies of insects. 



The following are the chief specimens : — 



PL XV. Fig. 6. Right-hand figure — the abdomen of a small flat 

 beetle. 

 * Collected bv the Rev. T. V>. Brodie. 



