1969] 
Kukalovd — Palaeodictyoptera 
479 
has dark veins very similar to those of Calvertiella permiana and 
Moraviptera reticulata Kukalova (Calvertiellidae) . 
Family Megaptilidae Handlirsch 
Megaptilidae Handlirsch, 1906: 80; Lameere, 1917: 102; Handlirsch, 1921: 
130. 
Anaxionidae Handlirsch, 1919:19. 
Lithoptilidae Handlirsch, 1922: 44. 
Type genus: Megaptilus Brongniart, 1885. 
The family was based by Handlirsch on a fragment of a large 
fore wing of spectacular character, showing extremely dense cross 
venation and a large rs area, with curved Rs branches. Professor 
Carpenter has kindly given me for study another (undescribed) 
specimen of Megaptilus from the Westphalian of Rhode Island, 
represented by a hind wing. Surprisingly enough, this hind wing 
turns out to be extremely shortened, reaching about only half of 
the fore wing length. This unexpected discovery throws more light 
on the obscure relationships of the Megaptilidae. The peculiar type 
of reduction of the hind wing venation, suggestive of some Eugere- 
onidae (e.g., Pero?naptera) , together with a general pattern of 
venation and cross venation, brings this family close to the Eugere- 
onidae - Archaemegaptilidae - Dictyoneuridae - Protagrionidae - Cal- 
vertiellidae group. 
The finding of this wing of Megaptilus enables us to solve the 
systematic position of another puzzling fossil — Lithoptilus Lameere, 
from Commentry. It probably represents a shortened hind wing of 
the same family Megaptilidae. The following account is based on 
Megaptilus (fore and hind wings) and Lithoptilus (hind wing). 
Wings very unequal. Fore wings large and broad, hind wing 
somewhat narrow, reaching only about half of the fore wing length. 
Branches of Rs, M and Cu in fore wing curve posteriorly. Rs area 
very large; MA simple, MP forked several times; CuA simple; 
CuP and anal area with several branches. Hind wing with a very 
reduced rs and mp area, with curved branches of M and Cu. Cross 
veins in both pairs of wings extremely dense, connected by numerous 
anastomoses. 
The family Megaptilidae is related to the Eugereonidae, as indi- 
cated by the shortened hind wings, curved branches of the main veins, 
nature of the branching of MP and the presence of extremely dense 
cross veins with numerous anastomoses. 
Genera included in the Commentry shales: Megaptilus Brongni- 
