Psyche 
[June 
1 66 
(Namurian C to Lower Permian) and wide geographical distribu- 
tion (North America., Europe and Asia). 
Unlike many other Palaeodictyoptera with a tendency to reduce 
the hind wings, the Spilapteridae and related families always have 
well-developed hind wings, which are markedly broadened in the 
basal half. The wing venation is very uniform throughout the family 
and seems to have been continued into the Lower Permian with rel- 
atively little change. The detailed branching of the veins, however, 
is highly variable, even within a single individual. As a result, any 
classification based upon details of branching of the veins is very 
questionable. 
This study of the Commentry Palaeodictyoptera has brought to 
light a great deal about the structure of the wings and the body. 
In the wings transverse structures apparently concerned with 
strengthening the membrane have turned out to be very characteristic 
of some genera; since they were diverse, being either cuticular 
thickenings, oblique cross veins, or oblique, pigmented stripes, they 
are useful in classification. Many details of body structures not 
previously noted were observed; these included the fine structures of 
the antennae, the clypeus, and the prothoracic lobes. To some extent, 
their variability within the Palaeodictyoptera is now known. As 
a. result of this more precise and extended knowledge of the structure 
of the Spilapteridae, I have found it necessary to make some tax- 
onomic changes. Lcimproptilia Brongniart, which is known from fore 
and hind wings, has a typical spilapterid venation, differing from 
other genera of the family only in the relatively broad fore wings, 
the convex curvature of the posterior margin of the hind wing, and 
the color pattern. None of these features seem to justify more than 
generic separation. Several generic changes also seem necessary: 
Compsoneura Brongniart, originally referred to the Spilapteridae, is 
herein placed with some doubt in the family Fouqueidae. Apopappus 
guernei (Brongniart), also originally placed in the Spilapteridae, is 
now put in the Lycocercidae. The new genus Tectoptilus is based 
on Becquerellia grehanti Brongniart. The new species, Homaloneura 
lehmani , is based upon one of Brongniart’s specimens (17-15), which 
he erroneously thought was the reverse of his type of Homaloneura 
ornata. 
The following are the characteristics which now seem to be valid 
for the Spilapteridae: wings about equal in length and similar in 
venation, but the hind wings broader basally; supporting structures 
often present in basal third of the wings; precostal strip present; 
anterior margin of wings more or less concave. Sc long, R simple or 
