§ 28. INSECTS OF THE WEALDEN. 407 



Buckinghamshire, the researches of the Rev. P. B. Brodie 

 have been most successful, and the acumen and persever- 

 ance of that gentleman have brought to light several hun- 

 dred specimens of insects or parts of insects. These consist 

 chiefly of remains of Coleopterous, Orthopterous, and Semi- 

 pterous insects ; and several kinds of Diptera and Neuro- 

 pteva. I have subsequently collected a few relics of beetles 

 from the Wealden marls at Wateringbury near Maidstone ; 

 and of coleoptera, diptera, and some unknown forms, from 

 near Stone in Buckinghamshire ; a locality of fossil insects 

 first pointed out by Mr. Brodie. 



The Wealden insects hitherto discovered are of very 

 small size, especially the Diptera and Coleoptera ; and if 

 any inferences could be legitimately drawn from these 

 limited observations, a low climatorial temperature of the 

 country they inhabited would be indicated, as the magnitude 

 of the insect tribes is in proportion to the heat of the climate. 

 The insects discovered by Mr. Brodie, and described and 

 figured by Mr. West wood, comprise species of Aphis, 

 cuckoo-spit insects (Cercopidce), diamond beetles (Curcu- 

 lionidce), terrestrial Crickets, Cockroaches, and Dragon- 

 flies (Libellulce) ; of the latter, which are inhabitants of the 

 water in their first stage, and of the air in their last, there 

 are relics belonging to species of gigantic size. As a general 

 result, Mr. Westwood considers the entomological fauna of 

 the Wealden to indicate a temperate climate.* At the same 

 time we must remark, that it is not at all probable that the 

 annulosa of the wealden epoch are wholly represented by the 

 minute and fragmentary remains at present known. 



28. Fishes of the Wealden. — The fishes whose re- 

 lics are distributed throughout the Wealden formation 



* From Mr. West wood's observations, in the elegant volume en- 

 titled, A History of the Fossil Insects of the Secondary Kocks of 

 England, by the Rev. P. B. Brodie; one vol. 8vo. 10 plates. Yan 

 Voorst, 1845. * 



