274 
Psyche 
[December 
The Permian snake-flies are little-known. 1 Sojanoraphidia (Sojan- 
oraphidiidae) from the Permian of the USSR (Marynova, 1952) 
has a long, curved ovipositor like that of the Recent species but the 
venation of the single wing that is known does not have the basic 
Raphidiodean pattern. It possesses a very long subcosta extending 
almost to the apex, and a very narrow costal space. What is most 
striking is the structure of the basal part of the radial sector and 
MA, which resembles the condition found in the hind wings of the 
Mesoraphidiidae, Alloraphidiidae and Baissopteridae. Although the 
apparent origin of this wing from the thorax indicates that it is a 
fore wing, as it was designated by Martynova, I find it difficult to 
Figure 2. Raphidia americana Carpenter, fore and hind wings. Recent, 
Mexico (Carpenter, 1958). 
believe that it is not the hind wing; at any rate, if it turns out to 
be the fore wing then quite clearly this is another very different line 
of the Raphidiodea from the others which are known in the fossil 
record. In fact, if it were not for the long, curved ovipositor, I would 
doubt that it could belong to the order. 
I have serious doubts about the position of the families Lepalo- 
pteridae Martynova, from the Permian of USSR, and of the family 
J The family Permoraphidiidae Tillyard from the Lower Permian of Kan- 
sas is almost certainly not a snake-fly but most likely an orthopterous insect, 
related to the Permelcanidae and Oedischiidae. 
