LEPTOBLATTINA EXILIS. 137 



Horizon and Locality. — Middle Coal Meastires (binds between the "Brooch" 

 and " Thick " coals) ; Coseley, Staffs. 



Description. — The type-specimen and a second (no. 1066), described at the same 

 time, show an almost complete pronotum, two pairs of rudimentary wings, and a 

 long jointed abdomen. Dr. Henry Woodward recognises a portion of the head 

 projecting in front of the pronotum in each, but of this 1 am doubtful. He also 

 describes the head as follows : " The head is very small, and somewhat bluntly 

 pyramidal in form, and measures 2 mm. in breadth at its base, where it disappears 

 beneath the pronotum, and is 2 mm. in length. There is a suture visible down the 

 centre which divides the two epicranial plates, at the sides of which the eyes 

 would be seen ; in front of the epicranium a small projection no doubt represents 

 the clypeus with the labrum at its extremity." 



In the type-specimen (PI. IX, fig. 7) the pronotum, 7"5 mm. long and 9 mm. 

 wide, is well rounded in front and on the sides, the margin of the latter passing 

 by blunt rounded angles into an almost straight hinder border. The surface is 

 marked out into the usual central raised area, bordered by slight grooves which 

 deepen backwards, and curve inwards. The lateral portions are flattened. 



The dorsal part of the mesonotum is partially exposed, its anterior edge being 

 hidden beneath the pronotum. The front pair of wings is attached to the 

 mesonotum so far forward as to touch the hinder edge of the pronotum. The 

 surface of the mesonotum was originally rounded, and judging from its present 

 condition, somewhat thin. It is now slightly puckered by folding. 



The metanotum is similar in character to the mesonotum, but a little more 

 robust, and has the second pair of wings still articulated near the front margin. 



The abdomen is long, the segments immediately following the body being 

 flattened by pressure, and their boundaries not clearly discernible. Behind follow 

 at least five well-marked segments which decrease in diameter backwards. The 

 last three show lateral epimera with the points turned backwards. Traces of 

 what appear to be cerci follow the last segment. These seem to be curved 

 inwards at their tips, and widely spaced, but their definition is unsatisfactory. 

 The length of the abdomen behind the metanotum is 14 mm., and the last segment 

 is not more than 2 mm. wide, the first of the six segments being double that 

 diameter. 



The wings are short, stout structures, those of the right side being perfect, and 

 those of the left side incomplete. The right tegmen has a length of 11 mm., and 

 the hind- wing a length of 10 mm. The venation, as in all larval wings, is very 

 obscure, and can be best studied on the impression of the wings. It consists of a 

 stout vein passing from the point of articulation of the wing outwards towards the 

 wing-apex, and keeping close and parallel with the outer margin. From this vein 

 a series of fine branches spreads fan-wise towards the inner margin of the wing, 

 and seems to reach it. Woodward has recognised a mediastinal (subcostal) vein 

 18 



