1969] 
Kukalovd — Palaeodictyoptera 
191 
the same as in superba ; wing narrowing towards the base ; postcostal 
area triangular, narrow; subcostal area in the form of a band near 
the base; CuP with at least two branches; anal area large, with only 
five veins, but with several long forks; cross veins numerous, simple, 
sometimes curved. 
Becquerelia tincta may be conspecific with superba, though it ap- 
pears to differ in having the origin of the first fork of MP more 
proximal, and in having several long forks of the anal veins. The 
color pattern is similar to that of Homaloneura dabasinskasi Car- 
penter from the Westphalian nodules of Illinois, and of Palaeoptilus 
brullei Brongniart from the Commentry shales. 
Genus Palaeoptilus Brongniart 
Palaeoptilus Brongniart, 1893: 352; Handlirsch, 1906: 101. 
Type species: Palaeoptilus brullei Brongniart, 1893 (OD). 
This genus is montoypic, being erected by Brongniart for a single 
species close to Becquerelia elegans. The following account, which 
is based upon a study of the type specimen, includes more details of 
venation than have previously been noted. 
Wings dark colored with light spots arranged in transverse bands; 
cuticular thickening unknown; Sc terminating somewhat before the 
apex; Ri with terminal branches; in the R-Rs area there are nu- 
merous long, oblique cross veins; MA is free from the stem of Rs; 
Rs and MA pectinate; MP forked several times; CuA pectinate; 
CuP forked. Anal area unknown. Cross veins numerous, simple, 
but somewhat irregular. 
Except for the lack of fusion of MA with the stem of Rs, 
Palaeoptilus is similar to Becquerelia , although the shape of the 
cuticular thickening is not known. The general venational pattern, 
the cross veins, and the large R-Rs area with its oblique cross veins 
are reminiscent of Epitethe. 
The type species is the only one known in the Commentry shales. 
Palaeoptilus brullei Brongniart 
Figure 14 
Palaeoptilus brullei Brongniart, 1893: 353, pi. 19, fig. 15; Handlirsch, 1906: 
102, pi. 11, fig. 15. 
This species is based upon a single specimen, Brongniart’s 19-15, 
which is a well preserved fore wing lacking the basal quarter and 
the posterior margin. 
