1859.] MritRAY — fossil nrsECia fkom xAortra. 185 



well defined, punctate-striate ; nine striae, the sixth and seventh ap- 

 parently enclosed by the rest. (Fig. 68.) It corresponds more closely 

 with the elytron of an undescribed genus from Australia than any 

 other which I have seen. 



Length, 1| lin. ; breadth, ^ lin. 



No. 12 (Carculionidce). — A single elytron, somewhat flat on the 

 surface, with occasional depressions ; base straight ; the margin in- 

 flexed, and extending down only for a short space ; deeply punctate- 

 striate ; nine or ten striae (the margin being not clearly decipher- 

 able), the fourth and fifth, third and sixth, &c, uniting towards the 

 apex. (Fig. 09.) 



This is a somewhat puzzling specimen, the flat surface and rather 

 hollow inflexure of the margin suggesting a Buprestidous affinity ; 

 but the deep punctation, depressions on the surface, and arrange- 

 ment of the striae show a greater affinity with the Curculionidae, 

 and remind one of a small Mini/ojis. 



Length of elytron, 2 lin. ; breadth, i lin. 



No. 13 (Ourcalionidce). — Two elytra together, but obviously 

 crushed ; at first sight, perhaps one might be disposed to view them 

 as the remains of a Heteromerous insect. Eut I think it is the 

 crushing which gives this appearance, and that it is really a Curcu- 

 lionidous insect with the inflexed and rounded margins of the elytra 

 squeezed out flat. Pushed out of shape as it is, all that can be said 

 is that there are eight stria visible (there may be one or two more not 

 seen) ; the striae arc delicately punctate, the punctures being minute 

 and wide apart ; and the fourth and fifth, third and sixth stria: are 

 united, as is common among the Curculionidae. (Fig. 70.) 



Length of elytron, 2| lin. ; breadth, 1 lin. 



I cannot take leave of this interesting collection without drawing 

 attention to the fact that these insects arc all of small, and most of 

 them of minute size. This is quite in accordance with previous 

 discoveries of fossil insets, which have mostly been found of mi- 

 nute size ; and 1 think, so far as may be guessed at from these 

 specimens, we are warranted in saying that the Entomological Fauna 



of Nagpur, at the era of these fossils, was probably smaller than 



that of the present day, at all events, certainly not larger; for 

 although it is now well known that in all parts of the world, tro- 

 pical as well as temperate, minute insects predominate, still a chance 

 collection of a dozen flotsam and jetsam insects in the present day 

 would. I think, have furnished Borne larger species than any now 



before me. I would also wish to observe that, although all the 



insects are minute, the only Bpecies which give any indication of 

 temperature (the Bwprestida \ point more to a warm climate than a 

 temperate one. The Curculiomda, to which the greatest number 



belong, give no indication either way. being found (of the size in 



question) equally in temperate and tropica] regions. 



