286 Mr. MuRCHisoN on a Fossil Fox found at (Eningen near Constance, 



subsequent work on Ichthyolites. Blainville^ however, recognizes the Esox 

 lucius* to be a true pike, but is not quite decided that it is of the common 

 species. Ci/prinus jeses and C. hipunctatus are also identified by him, but with 

 a sHght doubt f. 



Insects. 



These are found in abundance when the quarries are in activity, but being 

 disregarded by the workmen are usually thrown away with the refuse : 1 could 

 therefore collect only a few specimens, one of which is referred by Mr. Curtis 

 to the family of Formicidae, and another to the Hymenopterae }. Amongst the 

 (Eningen insects in the British Museum;};, Mr. Samouelle has noticed the 

 larvae of two species of Libellula; Anthrax two species, Coccinella one, Cimex 

 one, Cerambyx one, Blatta one, Nepa one. Now it is highly interesting to 

 remark that several of these insects, such as Anthrax, Cerambyx, &c., are in 

 living nature found upon such marshy plants as they are here associated with 

 in a fossil state, so that we can have little difficulty in supposing that they 

 dropped into this ancient lake from the vegetation which surrounded it. 

 Again, the larvae of Libellula above mentioned, exactly resemble our com- 

 mon English species Libellula depressa, which is aquatic, the perfect insect 

 frequenting lakes and stagnant waters; whilst the Nepa is a well known inha- 

 bitant of the bottom of muddy pools. 



Mr. Stokes has obligingly granted me the use of some nearly perfect in- 

 sects from CEningen, three of which have been kindly drawn for me by Mr. 

 Swainson, and described by Mr. Curtis in these words : 



" Plate XXXIV. fig. 4. A young larva of an a?,shna (Libellula Linn.) perhaps Oi^. grandis. 



. fig. 5. The underside of a pupa of the same insect, showing the curious 



mask, the insertion of the legs, and the spiraculae. 



. — fig. 6. An Agrion, perhaps A. sangaineum. The stigmata of the wings 



not being visible is what might be expected, because even in recent specimens, soon after their 

 exclusion from the chrysalis, those parts are of so pale a colour as not to be apparent, and must 

 consequently be injected by fluid to colour them, which by pressure or absorption would dis- 

 appear from the stigmata as well as the nervures." 



In examining these bodies the entomologist can neither assert nor deny the 

 identity of the greater number of them with existing species §. We may safely 

 state, however, that although they are very unlike those of the gypseous ter- 



* Sec Knorr, t. 1. tab. 26. and Scheuchzer, Pise. Quer. tab. 1. 



-j In the British Museum there are many fine specimens of QEningen fishes yet undescribed. 

 X Ammann and Lavater's original collections. 



§ it is very much to be desired that some able entomologist may soon examine the splendid 

 collection of these insects, now placed in the grand Ducal Museum at Carlsruhe. 



