1960] 
Carpenter — Protodonata 
99 
R 3 is not preserved in the fore wing but in the hind wing it is 
clearly visible and is associated with the oblique cross-vein (Sn) 
characteristic of most Meganeuridae (Carpenter, 1947, p. 47) \ the 
cross-vein is not so pronounced as it is in permianus, however. 1 he 
differences between the fore and hind wings in the proximal region 
are like those in other species of Typus. 
Holotype: U. S. National Museum, Washington, D. C. 2 The 
specimen (field number 8758) was collected in May, 1939, by Mr. 
Charles B. Read at Durham, Georgia, the locality data being “Catoosa 
(TVA. Durham Quad.), Williams Coal Company Mine in No. 4 
Coal. Plants from roof shale.” According to Butts’ account of the 
stratigraphy of the Paleozoic area in northwest Georgia (Butts and 
Gildersleeve, 1948, pp. 54-56), the coal mines at Durham are in the 
Walden sandstone part of the Pottsville Series. Butts states that 
“according to the best knowledge, the Pottsville Series of Georgia is 
of Lower Pottsville age and falls within the limits of the Lee Con- 
glomerate of Tennessee and Virginia and corresponds approximately 
to the lower part of the Pottsville of the anthracite coal fields of 
Pennsylvania which carry the Lykens number 4 and 5 and the Lykens 
Valley coals.” A brief discussion of the nature of the no. 4 coal at 
Durham is contained in Gildersleeve’s account (ibid., 1948, p. 104) 
of the mineral resources of the Paleozoic area in northwest Georgia. 
As can be seen from the photograph ( Plate 1 1 ) , the specimen con- 
sists of the apical portions of the fore and hind wings; although the 
remainder of the insect, which was presumably originally preserved, 
is broken away, the preserved portions are very clear. I have assigned 
this species to the genus Typus but it might conceivably belong to 
Megatypus or Boltonites ; the absence of the basal part of the wing 
containing the regions of the anal crossing and the second anal vein 
prevents a more definite generic assignment. 
The interest attached to this species is in the evidence which it pro- 
vides for the existence of the Meganeuridae in North America during 
the Carboniferous. It is the first such fossil that can be definitely 
assigned to the family. Furthermore, Typus durhami, occurring in 
the Lower Pottsville Series (corresponding approximately to West- 
phalian A), is among the oldest fossil insects known from North 
America. 
‘I am indebted to Dr. S. H. Mamay of the United States Geological Survey 
for sending me this specimen for study. 
