12 Ins. 
INSECTA. 
ScuDDER, S. H. The Devonian Insects of New Brunswick, with a 
note on the Geological Relations of the Fossil Insects from the 
Devonian of Now Brunswick. Anniv. Mem. Bost. Soc. pp. 41, 
plate. 
Relates to fossil wings apparently referable to the Ephemeridce, and 
other families related to the Neuroptera. The author arrives at the fol- 
lowing general conclusions : The earliest known Insects were hexapods, and 
the general type of wing-structure has remained unaltered. They were 
all lower Heterometahola, and nearly all are synthetic types of a com- 
paratively narrow range, and bearing marks of affinity to the Carbonifer- 
ous Palceodictyoptera, though frequently of a more complicated structure, 
and with a distinct facies of their own. The Devonian Insects were of 
great size, with membranous wings, and probably aquatic in early life ; 
some are plaiuly precursors of existing forms, whilst others seem to have 
left no trace. They show a remarkable variety of structure, indicating 
an abundance of insect life ; and they differ remarkably from all other 
known types, ancient or modern, aud some appear to be even more com- 
plicated than their nearest living allies. We are, therefore, no nearer the 
beginning of things in the Devonian epoch than in the Carboniferous ; 
and while there are some forms which partially accord with the general 
derivative hypothesis of structural development, there are quite as many 
which cannot at present be explained by that theory. A summary of the 
author’s conclusions is given in Am. J. Sci. (3) xxi. pp. 111-117 ; Ann. 
N. H. (5) vii. pp. 255-261 ; Kosmos, x. pp. 217-222. Hagen, however, 
argues (Bull. Mus. C. Z. viii. pp. 275-282) that Scudder’s determinations and 
conclusions are entirely erroneous. He also states (Nature, xxiv. pp. 356 
& 357) that the oldest known Insects cannot be assigned with certainty 
to an older formation than the Lower Carboniferous. 
-. The Tertiary Lake-Basin of Florissant, Colorado, between 
South and Hayden Parks. Bull. U. S. Geol. Surv. vi. pp. 279-300, 
map. 
Contains a geological and palaeontological account of the locality, with 
special reference to the fossil remains of Insects. 
. Two new British Carboniferous Insects, with remarks on those 
already known. Geol. Mag. (2) ii. (8) pp. 293-300, woodcuts. 
The species discussed are Neuroptera (q. v.) 4, Orthoptera, 2, and Coleo- 
ptera, 1. 
. The Entomological libraries of the United States : Library of 
Harvard University. Bibliographical Contributions, No. 11, Cam- 
bridge : 1880, 8vo, pp. 6. 
. A Bibliography of Fossil Insects. (Republished from Bull. Harv. 
Univ.) Bibli. Contr. Harvard Univ., No. 13. Cambridge : 1882, 
pp. 47. 
Thi^ important Bibliography is here included, although dated 1882, 
because a considerable portion was published in or before 1881. 
