138 FOSSIL INSECTS OF THE BRITISH COAL MEASURES. 



and an anal vein. An examination of a good cast of the specimen by oblique light 

 shows that there are a strong outer vein parallel with the outer margin, and at 

 least two others with short, thick stems breaking up into a fan-like series of 

 oblique veins which spread out towards the inner margin. From the researches 

 of Messrs. Comstock and Needham (1899, ' American Naturalist ' [4], vol. xxxiii, 

 pp. 573—582, fig. 74), these veins seem recognisable as the radius, median and 

 anal. I am unable to distinguish any detached limb such as that mentioned by 

 Woodward. 



The second example (PI. IX, fig. 8) differs from the first in several small 

 details. It lies on an inclined surface, and the abdomen has been dislocated and 

 twisted over to the right, so that it is in a different plane from the rest of the insect. 



The small " head " described by Woodward can be seen projecting from the 

 middle of the frontal margin of the pronotum, which is a little broken away. It 

 consists of a wedge-shaped structure, which narrows forwards, broad at its base 

 and slightly swollen. It is divided into an anterior centrally placed plate of 

 quadrangular outline, the hinder angle joining a sunken line (suture?) dividing the 

 two basal plates, which Woodward terms " epicranial." Too little is seen of the 

 anterior central plate for description, or for its recognition as a lab rum. 



The pronotum is raised in the centre and hollowed on the sides, while the 

 hinder margin is partially broken away. It overhangs the bases of the first pair 

 of wings. A ridge runs down the median line of the pronotum, the sides of the 

 latter being less rotund than in the first specimen, and the whole pronotum is 

 more sub-pyramidal in form. 



The first pair of wings is still in place, and about 11 mm. in length, allowing 

 for the basal part hidden under the hinder margin of the pronotum. The wings 

 stand out at a low angle from the body, leaving the mesonotum and metanotum 

 exposed. Both are partially crushed and crumpled, and the characters cannot be 

 made out. The left wing is the better marked of the two. 



The outer margin of the wing of the first pair is stout, and raised above the 

 general level. Two stout ridges rise from the middle of the base and pass along 

 the wing, the second ridge being the strongest, and traceable over two-thirds of 

 the length, while the first ridge does not extend beyond the basal fourth. The 

 first ridge occupies the place of the subcostal vein, and dies out in the direction of 

 the outer margin, but with no evident branches. The second and larger ridge has 

 all the appearance of a radius, is parallel with the outer margin, and can be seen 

 to send off four branches to the middle of the wing-apex, and the inner half of it. 

 The anal area is more slightly ridged, but with no discernible divisions. 



The hind-wings have a straighter outer margin than the fore-wings, and are 

 more membranous. Very little is seen of the left hind-wing. The outer margin 

 of the right hind-wing seems to be folded back on itself, and the radius vein is the 

 first distinguishable. It is more branched than its fellow of the fore-wing, giving 



