Ins. 255 
NEUROPTEEA. 
BY 
Robert McLachlan, F.R.S., F.L.S., &c. 
The General Subject. 
Albarda, Herman. Neuroptera in P. J. Yoth’s Midden-Sumatra,” iv., 
2de Aflevering. Natuurlijke Historie, 5de Afdeeliug, pp. 1-22, 
pis. i.-vi. Leiden : 1881 \suprd, p. 235]. 
The portion treating on Neuroptera in the volume devoted to Natural 
History in this work ; the species are not numerous, and are spread 
over various families. 
Hagen, H. A. The Devonian Insects of New Brunswick. Bull. Mus. 
C. Z. viii. pp. 275-284. 
A critical analysis of Scudder’s memoir of the same title \cf. Zool. 
Rec. xvii. Ins. p. 195]. The author states that “none of these fossils has 
any relation whatever to i\iQ Ephemeridm.^'* Platephemera antiqua (p. 276) 
is part of the apical half of the wing of a gigantic dragon-fly. Ger ephe- 
mera simplex (p. 277) is also referred to the Odonata. Lithentomum 
liarti (p. 278) is of the type of Chauliodes^ and probably pertained to 
the Sialina. Homothetus fossilis (ibid.) belongs to the Sialina. Xeno- 
neura antiquorum (p. 279) belongs to the true Neuroptera, but no par- 
ticular position is suggested. Byscritus vetustus (p. 281) may belong to 
Orthoptera, Pseudo-Neuroptera, or Neuroptera, but the fragment is too 
insignificant to be identified. The author concludes that none of the 
insects were synthetic types; all were probably aquatic in the early 
stages ; no near allies are known from the American Carboniferous strata, 
all the insects from which were probably terrestrial. Nomenclature of 
vague fossils should be discontinued. The paper ends with remarks on a 
fern found in the same slab with Platephemera, as bearing upon the pre- 
sumed Devonian position of the latter. Cf. also Nature, xxiii. pp. 483 
& 484, and J. Micr. Soc. (2) i. p. 731. 
McLachlan, Robert. Trichoptera and Neuroptera of the Upper En- 
gadine in August. Ent. M. M. xvii. pp. 217-222. 
Enumerates the species captured on an excursion in August, 1880. 
The more prominent species will be alluded to under the special head- 
ings. 
