﻿52 



ME. H. BOLTON ON SOME INSECTS 



[vol. lxxii, 



the nodule, and the fact already mentioned respecting the terminal 

 veins, we may fairly assume that the wings were at least twice 

 as long as broad, and had a bluntly rounded tip. Their great 

 breadth is an unusual feature in a Palseodietyopteroid wing, and 

 more typical of those of Blattoids. 



The general character and course of the chief veins are most 

 clearly Palseodietyopteroid. The intercalary venation is much like 

 that of JELypermegethes schucherti Handlirsch, and forms an open 

 irregular meshwork. 



Affinities. — Higgins does not seem to have hazarded any 

 view as to the character and relationship of this wing, although, as 

 already seen, he attempted to determine the relationships of the 

 smaller wing-fragment discovered by himself in the same railway- 

 cutting. 



The wing- structure is so clearly Palseodietyopteroid, that its 

 affinities must be sought for in that somewhat generalized group. 



In the general course and- character of the main veins, the 

 specimen shows a close approximation to Litliomantis carbonarius 

 H. Woodward, 1 but differs from all Lithomantidse in the definite 

 reticulation of the intercalary veins. The latter character brings 

 it into agreement with the Dictyoneuridse, more especially with 

 Titanoclictya juciind a (Scudder) Handlirsch. The last-mentioned 

 author has already shown 3 that the wing-structures of the Dictyo- 

 neuridse and Lithomantidse are so closely alike that the two families 

 might be combined, were it not that in some of the Lithomantidse 

 the form of the body differs strikingly from that of Dictyoneurids. 



The Ravenhead specimen possesses characters peculiar to the 

 two families. 



The Dictyoneurid wing is usually quite three times as long 

 as broad, while in the Lithomantids the hinder wings are much 

 broader in proportion to their length. The almost straight 

 posteriorly-directed anal veins of the specimen and the great 

 depth of the wing are alike Lithomantid in character ; the 

 wings are markedly membranous in their inner half, and I feeh 

 therefore, justified in assuming that they are the inner of two 

 pairs almost certainty possessed by the insect. 



The true relationship seems to lie between the Dictyoneurid 

 genus Titanoclictya and the Lithomantid genus Lithomantis. 

 The specimen cannot properly be included in either, and a new 

 genus is, therefore, necessary. To it I give the name of JPalceo- 

 mantis? Its characters may be described as follows: — Wings 

 short, and very broad in proportion to their length. The 

 radius, radial sector, and median are powerful veins with few 

 divisions; the cubitus is a weak vein. Anal veins directed almost 

 straight inwards. Intercalary venation forming an irregular 



1 Q. J. G. S. vol. xxxii (1S76) p. 60 & pi. ix, fig. 1. 



2 ' Bevision of American Palaeozoic Insects ' Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. vol. xxix 

 (1906) p. 673. 



3 7rnAa(()s = ancient. 



