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BOSTON: PUBLISHED BY THE SOCIETY. 1880. , ; -^.i:-. j.!*^': >:1l'i.'.Vj> L-r. - -J' I m Si The Devonian Insects of New Brusnwick. By Samuel H. Scudder. CONTENTS. I. Introduction. II. The «tiucture of tlio win^s in Ephemeiidae ; with a note on a jiiraasic inay-liy. III. Pl.atciilienu'ra antiqua. IV. Gcrepheniera Hiniplcx. V. Iloniotlietus fossilis. VI. Dvscritus vetustus. VII. Lithentoiuuni Ilarttii. VIII. IX. X. XI. Xcnononra antiquorum. General Riinunary. Note on the geologic.il relations of the fossil iuHt'cts from the ilevonian of New Bruns- wick. By Principal J. W. Dawson, LL.D., F. R. S., etc. Ex])lanatioii of the plate. 1. Introduction. Investigation of fossU remains of the oldest insects is nearly always extremely diffi- cult and perplexing, and often very unsati.sfactory in its results. The interest, however, necessarily attaching to the beginnings of life, warrants any labor that may be expended upon them. Especially is this true of the fragments treated of in this paper, because the;' are as yet the only insect remains which have been found in rocks older than the carboniferous formation in any part of the world. The writer may be pardoned for adding that they possess a special attraction for him, as among the specimens which first directed his particular attention to fossil insects, and he only regrets that so long a period as fifteen years should have elapsed before their full discussion. The remains consist entirely of broken wings, and were discovered in 1862, by the late Professor C. F. Hai'tt (at the time of his death director of the geological survey of Brazil), while searching for plant remains in the devonian shales near St. John, New Brunswick. The locality — called Fern Ledges by Mr. Ilartt, from the abundance of plant remains which occur in the black shales that are interstratified with the prevailing sandstones — is about a mile west of the town of Carleton, not far from St. John. The rocks form a series of ledges, exposed on the sea-shore between high and low water marks. The beds of sandstone and shale, of which they are composed, have a seaward dip of about 45°, and a strike of about W. 10° N., corresponding very nearly to the trend of the shore. The fossiliferous shales between the enclosing sandstones are worn away by the action of the water, leaving the fossils accessible in only a few places. The whole deposit is of very limited extent ; it reaches along the shore for about three hundred and twenty-five paces, exposing a thickness of strata of about forty-five meters, with a width of about ninety meters. wwnim.ivmw^m^fpmm inin. inwnnviiui.^n'' '"""WJWiiii^jiipiiQiiaivQqpr ) ! I ' ' : J ! I Itj 4 SCUDDER ON THE DEVONIAN The specimens discovered were six in number, some of them with their reverses. They are now in the museums of the natural history societies of St. John, N. B. and Boston, Mass. I am much indebted to Mr. G. F. Matthew, of the former institution, and to Professor A. Hyatt of the latter, for the opportunity of studying these specimens anew at my leisure. The plan of the present paper will be seen by a glance at the table above. A.s the simpler devonian insects, first described, have certain special relations with the Ephemeridae, their description is preceded by an account of the wing structure of the modern May-flies, as a basis of comparison ; each of the devonian species is then separately described, and its affinities discussed, and the whole is followed by a general summary. The stratigraphical question being, in this instance, of special importance, Principal Dawson has kindly prepared for me a statement of the case with which the article closes.^ II. TuE Structure of the wings in Ephemeridae ; with a note on - a Jurassic SPECIES. The following statement considers mainly the direction and division of each of the principal veins, and the comparative areas covered by them. The marginal vein forms the costal border. The mediastinal vein is absent or, perhaps, amalgamated vith the scapular in Lachlania, .Oligoncuria and Tricorythus; in all others it is simple, and extends to, or almost to, the tip of the wing, keeping at a very short and nearly uniform distance from the margin, with which it is generally connected, especially on the apical half of the wing, by frequent cross veins. On the basal half, the cross veins may be as abundant as apically, but they are generally rarer, "ud may be entirely absent, even when frequent apically ; or they may be absent throughout. In very rare instances, as in Coloburus, an intercalary vein may be found in the apical half of the wing between this vein and the costal margin. The scapular vein is simple, and reaches the tip of the wing, excepting in the three genera mentioned above, where it may perhaps be said to be amalgamated with the mediastinal, as shown by its ibrking near the middle of the wing in Tricorythus ; in Lachlania, however, it terminates not at the tip, which possesses only the marginal vein, but near the middle of the costal border. It is always connected with the vein below by a greater or less number of, usually many, cross veins. The externomedian vein is always compound, and always covers at least half, usually much the greater part of the wing. It always divides at the very base, and the upper branch is always forked, while the lower may, although rarely, remain single, and is usually forked to a less extent than the upper branch. Three is, therefore, the smallest number of nervules which may reach the margin in the area covered by 'Besides the vcferenees given in the bibliography under Dawson's Acadian Geology, 2d ed., pp. 513-23. 8 vo. London, each species, notices of the devonian insects will be found 1868. Darwin, Descent of innn, I, 360. 12iuo., London, 1871. In the i..llowing places: Hartt, on th'i Devonian plant- Stett. Ent. Zeit., xxviii, 145-53, ywMj'm. Trans. Eritoin. locality of the Fern Ledges, Lancaster, N. B., in Bailey's Ob- Soc. Lond., 1871, 38-40. American Naturalist I, 445, 625- servations on the Geology of Southern New Brunswick, pp. 26. Proc. Boston Soe. Nat. Hist., X, 96, X' 150-51. 131-40. 8vo., Fredericton, 1865; reprinted in substance, in Memoirs Boston Soc. Nat. Hist. Ill, lS-21, passim. INSECTS OF NEW BliUNSWICK. ( the vein, and this number we find in Oligoneuria and, perlinp.s, in Laclilania. The portion of the area of this vein covered by the upper branch and its forks is almost always greater, generally considerably greater, than that covered by the lower branch ; an exception to this will be found in Polymitarcys where the lower area is greater, owing to unusual breadth of wing combined with narrowness of the area covered by the intermedian vein, which has been crowded out of nuich of its natural ground by this lower branch. Some of the allies of Polymitarcys, especially Asthcnopus and Pentagenia, also have this area of the lower branch larger than usual, although not larger than that of the upper branch, and some other genera not placed near it exhibit a similar propensity ; but as a general thing, the area covered by the lower is scarcely more than half as large as that covered by the upper branch, and not infre(iuently it is less than one third its extent. The upper branch usually forks close to the base, occasionally at the very base, and sometimes the upper of the forks is amalgamated at the base with the scapular vein, as in Asthenopus, Tricorythus and Chloeon, and to a certain extent in Coenis, so as to give it the appearance of originating from that vein, and of complete independence of the externomedian ; whether thus severed from its connections, or plainly arising from the externomedian root, this upper fork of the upper branch runs in proximity to the scapular vein, parallel or subparallel to it, and, excepting where the venation is occasionally simple (as in Oligoneuria, &c.), always emits from its lower surface in the central portion of the wing one, two, or three nervules ; the first and second of these nervules are usually pretty near together at base, but all generally reach the border at unequal distances apart, the inequality being made good by intercalary longitudinal nervules ; these intercalary nervules often curve at their inner extremities toward or to one or another of the adjoining nervules, assuming then the appearance of regular branches, while the nervules proper are themselves oftener detached from their base ; so that it is sometimes difficult to tell whether a given vein should be considered normal or intercalary. The lower fork of the upper branch is occasionally simple, as in the Tricorythus, but usually forks once at about the middle of its course, rarely near the base, and very frequently encloses an intercalary nervule between these branches, but no intercalary nervules (excepting such as often break up the extreme margin into an irregular meshwork of veins) ever intervene between the upper nervule of this fork and the lower nervule of the upper fork, nor between its lower nervule and the upper nervule of the lower branch of the externomedian vein, excepting in the rare instances where this lower nervule is detached from its base, and takes on the form of an intercalary nervule. This lower branch, as has been said, is usually forked to a less extent than the upper branch, but a conspicuous exception is found in Polymitarcys where the branch is made up of a large number of sub-convergent simple rays, directed from the outer margin toAvard various parts of the upper internomedian nervule, but generally lost before reaching it. In general, however, its area is only about half that of the upper branch ; it usually forks close to the base, and each or either of its branches may again subdivide once ; all other nervules in the area are sure to be intercalary ; where it forks only once there is usually a single intercalary nervure midway between the branches, which seems to belong to one or the other of them and to represent its fork ; while between it and either branch there 6 SCUDDEIl ON THE DEVONIAN 11 r ' ■ i i ! may bo other shorter intercalarioH ; the only exception to this general Htatement is the case of Polymitarcys already cited, where after division at the bawe the upper fork must be looked upon as breaking up at once into three rays, while the lower severed from its connections breaks up similarly into a couple of forked rays ; the an)ount of abnormal divergence in this case may be better seen, hy stating that it is the only genus of Ephem- erida) in which this area is ctirried around the lower outer angle of the wing ; in all others it stops short of, usually far short of this angle ; here it reaches around it half way along the anal margin. The genus agrees, however, with all the others in that all the branch- ing occurs in the basal half of the area. In Oligoneuria and Lachlania the branch is simple and undivided, unlers the apparent branch in the latter should be looked upon as such, and not as a cross nervurc, like the more directly transverse veins above it. The area of the internomedian vein is never gt-eat, although always more extensive than that of any other vein but the externomedian, and it always includes the lower outer angle of the wing, excepting as above specified in Polymitarcys, and excepting also in the full-angled Tricorythus, where the anal area disputes its sway. Its construction is gen- erally similar to that of the lower branch of the extermomedian vein, although from the fonn of the area covered by it, its absolute appearance is very different ; moreover, one rarely finds in it any intercalary ncrvures, excepting such as sometimes line the exti'cme border, the smaller nervures almost always originating from the main stems ; the exceptions are found in Leptophlebia, Cloeon, and Baetis. The vein almost invariably forks at its extreme base, and from the upper of il esc branches sends either, rarely, a single shoot, or, much more frequently, a half a dozen, occasionally a dozen simple or forked shoots to the margin. In the interesting fossil described in the note at the end of this section these shoots appear to originate from the lower branch, the upper remaining simple, just as rarely occiirs in living forms as e. g., in some species of Leptophlebia. The anal vein invariably plays an insignificant part, and is apparently sometimes want- ing. Its area seldom reaches even half way along the anal margin, but in Tricorythus it extends even around the lowei outer angle, fai)'ly upon the outer margin. Here it ia composed of a single vein with three or four short but widely divergent branches ; usually it is forked at the base, and occasionally one or the other of these forks imitates the rayed branch of the internomedian by sending a number of parallel branches, often closely crowded, to the margin. This account of the neuration of the Ephemeridae is based upon much more extended material, and a longer study than that formerly given by me in my first quarto paper on fossil neuroptera, and corrects it in several important particulars, especially in the account of the internomedian vein, which was eroneously stated to be simple ^ and in the fuller statement of the divisions of the externomedian vein. ¥ Note on a Jurassic May -fly. JBexagenites Weyenherghii, gen. et sp. nov.: — A fragment of a wing only is preserved, in which the entire costal area and base are wanting. The neuration of the parts that remain * This statement was evidently the resi;lt of some over- same memoir it was remarked that the internon\edian vein Bight, since in the digest given on a subsequent page of the was " similar in character to the vena exiernomedia." INSECTS OF NEW BUUNSWICK. is perfect and indicate an insect wlioso alar expanse was nearly 45 mm., and which is moHt nearly related to Ilexagenia ; the first ii.i'erfor nervule of the upper fork of the upper branch of the externioinedian vein '•.* thrown off sonic way before the mid<]le of the wing; the lower branch forks at some distiiiice l)eyon(l the middle of its course, and encloscH between its branches a uingle intercalary nervule which extends nearly to the widely spreading fork. At a short distance from the base of the wing the lower branch of the externomedian vein has divided into three branches, the middle one nearer the upper than the lower, all of which continue undivided to the margin ; two intercalary nervurcs of unequal length occur in each of these interspaco«, extending almost half way to the base in the lower interspace, besides many short ones near the margin; the lowest of these branches is considerably curved and subparallel to the inner margin. The internomedian vein probably divides at the very base into two branches, the upper of which is simple, runs subparallel to the lowest externomedian nervule, striking the angle of the wing, while the other branch is in close proximity to it and throws off a large number of sin- uous simple branches to the anal margin, in doing which its outer half follows an irreg- ular course by a slight change of direction with each emission. The cross-veins are mod- erately frequent and subuniform throughout the portion of the wing which is preserved excepting in the internomedian area, and the border is much broken by intercalary nerv- uies into cells which are quadrate and generally much longer than broad. The anal area must be very contracted and the form of the wing closely resembles that of Ilexa- genia. The specimen is from Solenhofen, and is in the British Museum. The description is drawn up from a very clear sketch magnified 7 diameters, taken with the camera and pub- lished by Rev. Mr. Eaton in the Transactions of the Entomological Society of London, 1871. PI. 1, fig. 10. The species is dedicated to my friend Dr. Weyenbergh, of Cordoba, who has done so much in increasing our knowledge of the Jurassic insect fauna of Bavaria. III. PLA.TEP1IK.VIE1U AKTIQUA. PI. 1, flg.S. 5, 9, 10. Platephemera antiqua Scudd., Can. nat., (n. s.) iii, 205, fig. 2 (1867) ; — Id.* Geol. mag., IV, 387, pi. 17, fig. 2 (1867);— Ib., Dawson, Acad. Geol., 2d ed., 524, iig. 181(1868); — Ib., Amer. nat., i, 630, pi. 16, fig. 3 (1868); — Ib., Geol. mag., v, 173, 175-76 (1868); — Pack., Guide ins., 77-78, pi. 1, fig. 3 (186'J) ; — Nichols., Man. pal., 185, fig. 128 (1872); — Ib., Anc. life hist, earth, 145, fig. 8'J (1877) ; — Dana, Man. geol, 2d ed., 273, fig. 550 A (1874) ; — RoEM., Leth. geogn., pi. 31, fig. l) (1876). Mentioned without name, as the first species, in my letter [o Mr. Hartt on the Devonian Insects of New Brunswick (1865); — Bailey, Obs. geol. south. New Bruasw., 140 (1865); — Amer. journ. sc.,(2) xxxix, 357 (1865) ; — Can. nat., (n. s.) ii, 23 (1865); — Trans, entom. soc. Lond., (3) ii, 117 (1865). See also Amer. journ. sc, (2) XL, 277 (1865). The wing was ample (whence the generic name) and gigantic. Probably a third of the wing is wanting at the base, besides the greater part of the extreme outer edge, but the fragment preserved enables us to judge, probably with considerable accuracy, both the general structure and, by the direction of the nervules and of the marguis, the general ' 1 B 8 HCUDDEIl ON TIIK DEVONIAN form of the winj?, wliich is pri'suinod lo bo iinu^h iih outlined on iho plate. The wintr wuH prohahly nioro tliiin 00 inin. in Icnj^fli, nnd about 27 nun. in briMidth ; the alar expnnso 'vas tluTofort' at least 125 mm., and .)robal)ly l.'J-i nun., and tlio two tigurcH have been ho placed nn to indicate thi.s expanse. This is more than double the ordinary ni/.e of the lurj^er Ephemeridao and the larj^est mentioned in Eaton'H paper on these insectH has un expanse of only 78 mm., and the largest of the jura-ssic species only 05 mm. The costal margin is very gently arcuate ; the apex probably some\vhat pointed, toward which the upper veins are directed wiUiout additional arcuation; the greatest breadth was probably a little before the middle of the wing, and the outer perhaps half as long again as the anal margin. The marginal vein runs close to b'lt does not form the margin of the wing, the latter being indicated in the llgures on the plate by a dotted line. The mediastinal vein runs as clowe as possible to the margin, and is not connected with it by cross veins ; these two veins apparently run side by side to the apex, when the marginal disappears and the mediastinal takes its place close to the border. The scapular vein runs sub-parallel to the mediastinal, but at double the distance fnuu it apically as basally, the change occurring rather abruptly near the middle of the preserved portion of the wing ; it is connected with the vein above by straight cross-veins at tolerably regular, rather frequent intervals. As usual in this family, the externomedian vein Is apparently divided, probably not far from, or at the base, into two stems, and the upper of these stems is again divided, prob- ably at some distance from the base, into two principal branches ; the nuiin portion of the upper branch runs parallel to, b 't somewhat distant from the scapular vein, approaching it, however, apically, and is everywhere connected with it by cross-veins, very much as in the mediastino-scapular interspace; it throws off from its inferior surface several inequi- distant feeble offshoots ; the first originate a little before the middle of the wing, and run irregularly but with a gentle downward curve to the outer nuirgin ; they have between them and between the outermost and the main branch a number of equally irregular intercalary nervules, all of which are connected together by cross-veins, and thus form over the whole area a mesh work of irregular but usually hexagonal and longitudinally elongated cells, making it impossible to distinguish between normal and intercalary veins, since tin latter are as prominent as the former, and invariably arise from cross-veins ; while whatever nervules lie next the main branch are united with it by frequent and, equally irregular cros.s-veins falling from the main branch quite in the manner of the off- shoots proper, and forming cells only slightly larger than the others, although genei'ally transversely elongated ; together there are about nine rows of cells between the main upper branch and its first offshoot. The lower branch of the upper stem is simple and, originating apparently near the middle of the basal half of the wing, diverges at first slightly from the upper branch, afterwards a little more rapidly, and in its apical fourth curves downward considerably, and is somewhat irregular in its course; its direction is in general parallel to the offshoots, and especially the nearer offshoots of the upper branch, and on the border it is separated from the apex of the upper branch by nearly one-third of the outer margin of the wing ; in its simplicity this branch resembles the same nervure in Tricorythus, which is peculiar in this particular among modern Ephemeiiuue. As in INSECTS OF NEW nniTNSWICK. modern Epheinoridm gonorally, there in no intercaliiry lU'rviilo hetweon tluH lower bramili of tlij uppjr exturiinnxliiiii Hfc.«in an I tim I'liMt ofTdiDot ol tliu lovv^sr bramih, but th'n intorHpiico is (llluJ vvitli simple an;l freqiiunt eroH voim. The lower exlornoinedian stein is apparently fonii j 1 on tim samii plan a^ i]v) upper, n feature which appears to have no couuterpirt am )u^ living K,>Iu!:ii iriliu ; app:ireutly it is composed, like the upp^r, of two primary branches, whicdi seem to part from vnv.h other very nearly at the same consideriil)lodistan(!e fruu the base, (about one-third the distance to the margin), n feature uticommon but not nnknowu in living Fjp'ium srid lu ; but in^t.iiid of having a single independent intercalary or „vvo butweeu tlu forks, it h is suveral olTHlio;)ts which depend from the upper branch, junt as the off (hoots of tlu nppjr braiio'i of t!io upper stem do, while between them in the outer half of their course other inturcalaries arise, depending from angular cross veins — the whole uiiitjd by frj i uiifc croii vjiuH (again as in the upper area), to form a mesh-work of irregular colls guurally puiitigon d, r.lthough not often longitudinal ; there are tlun in;;lu;L'il b^twj'jn time forks i»").).it six rows of cells. The interspaces directly adjoining oitlur oiib of tlu lovvor brauj'i of tlu upper externonicdian stem are slightly widor than the interspaces butwuon the njrvulos in the area of the lower externomedian stem, possess no intercalarios, and are dividul by Jrequent cross veins. The lower branch of the lower extornomu lian stem aNo c;irvm downward at the tip, like the lower branch of t\m upper stem ; tin area of thj lovvjr externomedian stem repeats, therefore, and on only a little smaller scale, the structure of the area of the upper stem, instead of exhibiting, as in recent forms, distinctive features. That portion of the fragment of the wing lying below what we have hero considered the lower simple branch of the lower externomedian stem, and which is shown in fig. 10 and not in fig. 9, is so fragmentary and so separated from it-i basal connections that it ia dilHcult to decide to what area of the wing it belongs; it con-iists of four rows of cells separated by curving nervules a little more uniform in thair course than the minor nervule.« above, with .slightly less frequent cro'is veini ; tlie cells buing slightly larger and more regular, frequently quadrangular and usually longitudinal ; tliis field belongs of course either to the externomedian or the internomedian area. The general similarity of the structure of the fields would lead one at first to suppose it to belong to the externomedian area, in which case of course our description of the lower stum and its branches should bt modified to receive it. As, too, the form of the fra,giuont would indicate that a very considerable part of the region about the anal angle is lost, the reference of this field to the internomedian area would give that area a very great and very unusual preponderance in the wing. But its reference to the externamedian area, which is certainly possible, would involve quite as great an anomaly ; for in that case the lower externomedian stem must be supposed to consist of two branches, the lower lying beyond the present fragment and probab'y simple, the upper forked and reproducing on a smaller scale the whole of the upper exteraome Jian stem, including the minor offshoots depending from the uppermost branch of each. In this case the area of the lower stem would exceed that of the upper, which occurs in very rare instances in modern Ephemerid.ie and then only by crowding out of room the lowjr areas, which the probable wide expanse of this wing would not allow unless this lower area is of an exceedingly disproportionate size. The translation of the facts which I have offered in my description, on the other hand, while it 1-! !|i 1 !i t' I 1(1 ' I" 10 SCUDDER ON THE DEVONIAN requires a very iiniieual dnvolof rrent of the iniernonie'^inn area, leaves the lower externo- medinn field m its usual proportionate extent as compared to the upper field, and is further supported by several considerations: chief y by the probabilit)' that where repetitions of structure are found — a mark of simplicity much more common among ancient than among rectut ins-etis — they are far more apt to occur between repetitive parts than between those which may not be so exactly compared. On the hypothesis sustained above, this repetition occurs in the iields embraced between the two similarly disposed sets of branches into which one veiii is divided. On the other suggested (and apparently the ouly alternative, for the open interspaces on either side of the lower branch of the upper exvemomedinn stem seem to fix that nervule unquestionably) the repetition would be between the whole of one set of brtinches of this vein, and one portion only of the two of which the other set of that vein is composed. Other arguments may be advanced from the character both of the nervules nnd of the cells formed by them and the cross veins, which differ slightly fro. i those in the field next above, a difference greater both in extent and in nature than that existing between what we have considered the upper and the lower externomedian fields. Further than this, the slight change of direction in the course of the outer miirgin, resulting in a slight emargination of this border of the wing, although apparently not found at all in living Epheiueridae, would be far more likely to occur, does far more frequently occur in other insects, between two adjoining areas than in the middle or other part of one. Considering then the field under di-scusaion as belonging to the intcrnomedian area, we must describe this as plainly of very unusual extent, and as filled as it never is in living types with a laige number of intercalary nervules. It may be remarked that none of the many intercalaries in this wing arise indepen- dently, and that they are not more abundant at the extreme outer edge of the wing, as is frequently the case in modern types. The former feature is the more noteworthy, as the independent origin cf the intercalary veins in Ephemeridae would naturally be taken aa a mark of inferior organization ; and yet it does not occur in this oldest member of the group, nor yet in the Jurassic species from Solenhofen, described on a previous page; in this last, however, the edge of the wing is more broken by intercalaries than the parts removed from it. The length of the fragment preserved is 42 mm. and its greatest breadth, 25.5 mm. The points in which this insect presents the most sti'king differences from modern ♦ypes, and upon which we would establish the genus Platephemera, are : the very similar instead of distinctive structure of *he framework of the two sets of branches of the externomedian vein, and of the respective areas included between them ; the excessive number of the intercalaries in the area included between the lower set of externomedian branches, and their attachment (in the apical half of the wing) to the upper of these branches — from which the previously mentioned peculiar feature mainly depends ; the simplicity of the lower branch of the upper externomedian stem in an unusually ramose wing : the unusual extent of the intcrnomedian area and its rich supply of intercalaries ; the density and polygonal form of the cells formed by the cross veins below the upper externomedian vein ; the emargination of the outer border ; and finally the vast dimensions of the wing. n t;^ . I INSECTS OF NEW BRUNSWICK, 11 If W3 Ic jk to other early types for sposies akin to this we shall find a whole group of carboniferous insects with reticulated wings, to which this is evidently related. To this belong those forms to which the generic names DIctyoneura and Breyeria have been given in the old world, and Paolia and Haplophlebium in the new. Several new forms, as yet unpublished, are known to me from th.^ American carboniferous rocks. In all these genera, but especially in DIctyoneura anl Haplophlebium (wiiich perhaps should not be separated from each other), the wing is very much larger and slenlerer (like a dragon-fly's wing) than the fragment of tins devonian wing will allow us to suppose it to be. As in these wings, the mediastinal vein is present, and usually runs into the marginal at some distance from the tip of the wing, and the general relation of the principal veins is sim- ilar in all ; in none of the others, however, do we find so distinct a meshwork of sub- ordinate veins, nor can they be resolved as here into sets dcpe.iding from the two prin- cipal branches of the externomedian vein. So that while a general similarity of structure may be conceded, there is no occasion for considering the insects as closely affiliated. The distinction between Platephemera and Gerephemera will be pointed out in treating of the latter insect. This insect com from plant-bed No. 7 of Professor Hartt, and was the only insect found at that horiz; j. In his " Monograph on the Ephemeridae,"^ Rev. Mr. Eaton treats of the fossil species which have been referred by one and another author to this family, in a very summary manner,* asserting that : " when a fossil comprises only a fragment, or even a complete wing of an Ephemerid, it is ha 'dly possible to determine the genus, and impossible to assert the species. The utmost that can be learned from such a specimen is the approximate relations of the insect. Neuration by itself is not sufficient to define the species or even the genera of recent Ephemeridae." While we should not wish to deny the claims of Mr. Eaton to a profound knowledge of the structure of the Ephemeridae, we venture to doubt if he would assert that there are not features in the wing structure of somv.^ genera not fo md in others, and which are, therefore, in so far characteristic of those genera; and it might be worth while to consider whether a careful study of such differences would not reveal some further differences not discernible upon a cursory examination. One should be slow to hazard sweeping statements of a negative character; and after all, it may be enquired, what more is desired, or at least expected, than " the approximate relations of an insect " found fossil in the older rocks. That is precisely the aim of palaeontology the world over ; and those who discourage efforts to discover these relations are simply bidding us close one of the vol- umes of the book of life, quite as valuable as that they study. In further comment? in the same place, Mr. Eaton asserts of the insects of the Devo- nian discussed in this paper, that "they have all been regarded as allies of the Ephemer- » Trans. Entom. Soc. Lond., 1871, .S8-40. ' Tliu luanner in which Mr. Eaton ha8 confounded names 'n this Bevtion of bis work is pretty fair evidence tliat he has not given the papers he quotes that close attention which would entitle him to use the languajre of ridicule toward their authors. In the three pages he devotes to this to]'ie, DyscrituB is twice given as " Dyscrltius "; articuintus twice as " anliquoruin "; oucideatalis once as " Brownsoni "; Bronsoni twice as " Brownsoni " ; Duna twica as " Scud- der " ; Scudder six times as "Dawson." m SCUDDER ON THE DEVONIAN idae," I do not know by whom; certainly not by myself, who first described them. Platephemera he says, may possibly belong to the Ephemeridae, " but there is nothing in the figures to make this certaiii." The better figures published with this should be sufficient proof that Platephemera belongs where I originally placed it. The neuration agrees in all essential features with that family, and indeed, considering the antiquity of the creature, shows marvellously little divergence from existing types. And althoi gh Mr. Eaton has nothing to say of the wing structure of the Ephem- eridae as a whole, in distinction from that of other neuropterous families, I can hardly believe that any one who has studied it from the stanflpoint of the substtmtial unity of wing structure in all insects, could fail to discover tha c the Ephemeridae have a special development of wing neuration distinct from all others, permitting formulation, and to which Platephemera conforms to so close an extent, that until we have further light by the discovery of more complete remains we are amply justified in considering it as an antique type of Ephemeridae. it- Uym IV. Gerephemeba simplex, pi. 1, figs. 8, 8a. Ger3phemera simplex Scudd., Geoi. mag., v, 174-75 (1868). Mentioned without name, as the fourth species, in my letter to Mr. Hartt : On the devonian insects of New Brunswick, p. 1 ; Bailey, Obs. geol. south. New Br., 140 ; Amer. journ. sc, (2) xxxis, 357 ; Can. nat, (n. s.) ii, 235 ; Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., (3) ii, 117 — all in 1865. lit the specimen and reverse as first seen by me, scarcely more could be said of this insect than the brief notice already published ; nothing appeared but a slight fragmeiit of the tip of a wing, and this would not have been dignified by a name had not the extreme interest attaching to fossil insects from the horizon at which it occurred seemed to demand it. The portion preserved was the upper half of the outer border with the extremities of the veins impinging upon it, and two of the principal veins near the tip of the costal margin ; these two veins are as usual in the Ephemeridae and probably represent the mar- ginal and mediastinal (or scapular), and show that the latter reached the border scarcely above the tip of the wing. Since my first excmination, however, Mr. G. F. Matthew has worked out a considerable part of the wing en one of the stones belonging to the St. John Society, which, though very different in certain parts from what would have been anticipated from the portion first exposed, bears out in a measure the statement that was hazarded concerning it, although it proves that the generic name chosen was unfortunate. In this removal of the stone from the surface of the wing, a fragment of the tip with its two veins was flaked oflf; but as careful drawings had been taken of it, I have replaced the two lines indicating the veins mentioned above upon the drawing made of the wing as it now appears. This gives us indeed a much better clue to the probable form of the wing than we could possibly otherwise have, for the considerable and constantly increasing diver- gence of the upper and lower veins of the continuous portion of the fragment leave a very strange eflect ; £y;id, without the aid these two vein-tips furnish, leave the form of the apex of the wing decidedly problematical. i. :i '■ INSECTS OF NEW BRUNSWICK. 13 The wing is that of a very large insect, the fragment, which reaches neither base nor tip, being 60 mm. long, and rendering it probable that the alar expanse was at least 150 mm. and more probably 1'5 mm. The apex of the wing was pointed, the costal and outer margin probably meeting at a rounded angle of about GU°. The costal margin must have been /ery strongly arched near the middle of the apical half, while the apical part of the outer border is nearly straight. The wing was probably elongated, not very broadly expanded in proportion to its length, as I at first presumed from not having counted on such an extended development toward the base. In the middle of the outer half of the wing the width is about 23 mm., and from the course of the fragments of the two borders it is probable that the width nowhere exceeded 25 mm. or about two-sevenths the length of the wing. The fragment preserved contains considerably less than half the area of the wing comprising most of the central portions. The whole anal area is lost as well as what is apparently most or all of the intemomedian area, extending far along the outer margin ; the merest fragment of the costal border, 2-3 mm. lon;;^, is preserved, apparently about the middle of the wing ; the tip of the wing and outer half of the costal margin are broken awpy, but a couple of veins at the tip are supplied, as already stated, from a piece that was accidentally removed. This irregular fragment, extending diagonally across the outer half of the wing, with a basal extension along the middle line, is traversed by principal nervures bound together by a net work of mostly very irregular and very feeble, occasionally more regular and distinct cross veins, forming irrsgular, mostly longitudinal, unequal, polygonal, rarely quadrangular cells. The veins may be grouped into an upper set of parallel, equidistant and rather approximate, nearly straight, slightly upcurved nervures, three or four in number, traceable only near the middle of the wing ; and a lower set of two, traceable throughout the apical half of the wing and extending nearly half way from the middle to the base ; these are parallel, more distant, directed gently downward and BO divergent from the other set, and toward the apex curved considerably downward Between the veins of the upper set the cross veins are infrequent and mostly straight, forming quadrangular cells ; while in the lower set they are more frequent and very irregular, foiming polygonal cells which, toward the apical margin, are very indbtinct from the feebleness of the cross veins. The area formed at the apex of the wings by the divergence of the two sets of veins, is filled by branches from the superior surface of the uppermost of the lower set of veins, supporting a mesh of cross-veins. The principal vein of the wing then — the only one which appears unquestionably to support a number of branches — is the uppermost vein of the lower set. And since in all palaeozoic insects having true net-veined wings, one never has to pass beyond the externomedian vein, in starting from tho costal margin, to find the first extensively branched vein, there can be little if any doubt that this should be considered as belong- ing to that vein, and not to a lower one. The only difficulty about this interpretation is that in the middle of the wing, there are above this vein no less than fivj equidistant and almost equally distinct veins. The first of these, forming the margin, is the marginal vein, and the next is the mediastinal. It is impossible to consider this marginal as the mere thickening of the border, and the vein next removed from the border as the true marginal vein, for both the margin itself would be too broad, and tne marginal would if t! iv; i ■'! 1^ \h I i i i! ! ii 14 SCUDDER ON THE DEVONIAN I 1 then be an elevated, and the mediastinal a depressed vein (see fig. 8a), which is never the case in such insects. The nervure at the margin then is certainly the marginal, and that next to it the mediastinal vein. Only one vein, the scapular, can lie between the med- iastinal and the externomedian, yet between our undoubted mediastinal and our presumed externomedian there are no leas than three vein^ to be disposed of. Two of these lie in the depression following the mediastinal vein, while the third is upon the side or the upper edge of the asc snding portion of the area, which on the opposite side of the depression lies at the level or above the level of the medinstinal vein (see fig. 8a). It seems, therefore, highly probable that the £wo low-lying veins are branches of a scapular vein which probably divides not much further toward the base ; and that the third vein in question is the main externomedian stem, of which the branching vein below is only a principal basal offshoot ; indeed the very fact that the branches of this offshoot are thrown off from its superior surface leads to the presumption that it is itself a branch from a vein above ; for, while an area between two branches of one vein may not very infrequently be filled by superior offshoots from an inferior branch, it would certainly be abnormal for a wide area to be filled by superior offshoots from an upper branch, or even from a main stem itself. Presuming then upon the correctness of these interpretations, the structural basis of the wing is as follows : < The marginal vein forms the border. The mediastinal vein is simple, and, running nearly parallel to the marginal vein, probably terminates by impinging upon it not very far from the middle of the outer half of the wing; from it run frequent oblique delicate cross veins to the border. The scapular vein divides into two longitudinal veins before the middle of the wing, probably considerably before it ; for even before the middle of the wing, and for as great a distance beyond it as it can be traced, the two branches are exactly parallel to each other and the mediastinal ; all the longitudinal interspaces in the middle of this part of the wing are equal ; the forks are connected with each other (and the upper with the medi- astinal ?) by tolerably frequent faint cross veins at right angles to the nervures ; and in the middle of the wing and beyond it, at least for a short distance, have a gentle upward direction, and even curve very slightly, almost imperceptibly, in the same direction ;. beyond however, they must curve strongly in the opposite direction, for the pair of detached veins toward the tip of the wing have a decided downward direction, and these forks, whether the same or not, must in that part of the wing have a similar direction ; probably they are the same, and if so they show that they retain a similar distance apart until they strike the costal margin, one just before or at the tip, the other a little earlier. The externomedian vein must divide into two principal veins near the base of the wing ; the. upper branch follows closely the course of the veins above, and lies as far from the near- est as the latter from the next ; a little beyond the middle of the wing, however, this space is slightly increased, and an intercalary vein, straight and similar to the others, but fainter, takes its rise from an oblique bent cross vein ; all the other cross veins in this interspace and on either side of the intercalary vein, are like the others in the scapular interspaces, and the whole area in which these straight and directly transverse cross veins lie, namely that between the mediastinal and upper externomedian veins, forms a deeply sunken but broad sulcus, the floor of which is nearly flat, and not V-shaped as usual in folds in this INSECTS OF NEW BRUNSWICK 16 part of the wing ; probably it is otherwise further toward the base of the wing before the division of the scapular vein, for the sides of the sulcus are tolerably steep, and where only a simple vein occupied the sulcus, as is ordinarily the case in neuropterous wings, the sulcus would be angular. The lower externomedian branch at the middle of the wing is already as far from the upper branch as that from the upper scapular branch, and continues to diverge from it with a very gentle curve, which increases apically, so that it strikes the border with the same direction as the veins above ; in the in'erspace between these two branches runs a feeble intercalary vein, slightly irregular in direction, sending off" cross veins to one side and the other, forming longitudinal irregularly pentago- nal cells ; as the interspace widens these become more irregular, until at about two-thirda the distance from the base of the wing to the tip of this branch, a superior offshoot from this branch is emitted, having a course about midway between the two branches, but very soon taking a somewhat zigzag direction, and assuming altogether the appearance of the intercalary, to which it sends frequent cross veins ; a short distance further on, or at about the end of the second third of the wing, this emits a second offshoot, rather more prominent and regular than the first, which parts rapidly from the branch, and, remaining near the first, afterwards takes the apical direction of all the veins ; it is bound to the upper off- shoot by frequent cross veins forming small polygonal cells ; between it and the lower externomedian vein is another very feeble intercalary arising from a cross vein, and becoming, like its lateral offshoots, nearly imperceptible toward the outer maigin ; as indeed do all the other cross veins and intercalaries, so that they were nearly unobserved when the margin alone was exposed, and many of the cross veins fail to compass the interspaces. What can be seen of the intemomedian vein is traceable slightly further toward the base of the wing than the preceding, but as the wing is broken here, it is impossible to say whether it is basally divided, and the poi tion visible is the upper branch, or whether what we see is the whole vein ; in the former case the upper branch, in the latter the vein proper, runs sub-parallel to the lower externomedian, very slightly diverging from it, and in the middle of the wing (where it is broken, but where its connections leave no doubt whatever of its course) is as distant from it as the two externomedian branches at the same point ; a single, distinct, pretty regularly zigzag intercalary runs midway between it and the lower externomedian branch, connected with tolerable regularity to the veins on either side by alternating, straight, transverse or oblique cross veins, generally forming rather regular, longitudinal, pentagonal cells, which become exceedingly irregular, obscure and broken next the outer margin of the wing ; just below the apical offshoot of the lower externomedian branch it throws off an inferior branch, which is nearly straight, and is apically as distant from it as is the next vein above ; between these branches is a very irregular intercalary vein, resembling in its connections the apical part of the intercalary above. The parts of the wing below this branch are waiiting. The relations of this insect to living types is far more obscure than in the case of Plat- ephemera. It has certain resemblances to Platephemera and also to the carboniferous Palaeodictyoptera to which it mUy possibly belong, but it is certain that the limits of the Ephemeridae, even including Platephemera, are not elastic enough to admit it, and its diver- gence from Dictyoneura and other net-veined insects of early time is so great that its 1' ' V' I) 1 1 ! m 8CUDDER ON THE DEVONIAN ii i+! reference there would seem to obscure its real isolation. In fact there seems to be not only no family of insects into which it can be placed, but even no sub-order living or extinct, into which it would naturally fall. There is no known insect in which five par- allel and distant nervures follow the course of the costal margin, and of which only two arise from the same root ; and so fur as my observations have gone, I have found no neu- ropterous insect (to which of living groups this is plainly the most nearly allied), in which the externomedian vein is the first extensively branched vein, and in which at the same time, the upper branch of this vein is simple. In Ephemeridae (to which group one would most naturally compare it from its general appearance), the externomedian vein, as already stated, is always compound, and its upper stem is always forked. In this insect on the contrary, the upper stem is simple (which is the more remarkable from the forked character of the scapular, always simple in Ephemeridae) and the lower forked, its branches being superior and herein differing remarkably from ordinary types. Gerephemera then is not only further removed from modern Ephemeridae than is Plat- ephemera, but can be even less closely affiliated with Platephemera than the latter with modern Ephemeridae. It has, nevertheless, some distinctive points in common with it. Such are its great size and the probable great expanse of the internomedian area, the dif- fering character of the net-work above and below the uppermost externomedian branch, the polygonal nature of the mesh-work caused by the cross- venation (in common with many other old insects), and the somewhat uniform character of that network next to and away from the border. In common with modern Ephemeridae, but in distinction from most other insects, must be mentioned the common feature of intercalary nervures, which here, as in Platephemera, are never free at their origin. As points of special distinction from Platephemera may be mentioned the broad area given to the veins above the externomedian vein, the forking of the scapular vein, its course at the bottom of a deep and broad sulcus, the occurrence of a straight intercalary in the scapular-externomedian interspace, the entire structure of the externomedian vein (differing altogether from Platephemera) and the elongated slender form of the wing, which resembles much more closely Dictyoneura and Haplophlebium. From these latter genera again, to which we should perhaps consider it most closely allieu, this insect differs remarkably in the structure not only of the externomedian vein, but in the wide extent of the wings above that vein, and the number of nervures which fill it. It would appear also to differ in the character of the reticulation above the exter- nomedian vein, a matter of less importance, but in which it agrees with Platephemera. The difference in the frame work of the wing, however, is so great and so deep seated, that there can be no doubt of at least its family distinction from all known types. Whether or no it is worthy of being classed as subordinally distinct, I leave to future discussion. But in allusion to the apparent fact that the peculiar nature of its neuration has not left its mark on modern types, I propose to call the family group in which it should be placed Atocina.* It will be sufficiently distinguished from other ancient types (as from modern) by the forking of the scapular vein, the course of the externo- median, its distant removal from the costal margin, and its peculiar division. This insect and Xenoneura come from the lowest of the Lanpaster Shales which furnish insect remains, called plant bed No. 2, by Professor Hartt. ' From the Greek &rnxo^. i;b^ INSECTS OF NEW BRUNSWICK. V. HOMOTIIETUS FOSSILIS. PI. 1, figS. 1, 2. 17 Ilomothetua foasilia Scvud., Can. imt. geol., (n. s.) in, 205, fig. 3 (1867); — Ib., Geol. mag., IV, 387, pi. 17, fig. 3 (1867); — Id., Daws., Acad, geol., 2d ed. 524-25, fig. 182 (1868); — Ib., Amer. nat., i, 631, pi. 16, fig. 7 (1868); — Ib., Geol. mag., v, 172, 176(1868);- Pack., Guide ins., 77-78, pi. 1, fig. 7 (1869). Mentioned without name, an the second species, in my letter to Mr. Ilartt : On the devo- nian insects of New Brunswick, p. 1 ; Bailey, Obs. south. New Br., 140 ; Amer. journ. sc, (2) xxxix, 357; Can. nat. geol., (n. 8.)ii, 235; Trans, ent. hoc. Lond., (3) ii, 117, — all in 1865. The wing representing this insect is the most complete of the devoni'in insects, and would leave little to be desired were the base more complete ; unfortunately the reverse of this specimen was never found, or it might supply the missing parts. To judge from the strong convexity of the costal margin, it is a front wing. It has the gen- eral appearance of a Sialid of moderate size, and the form of the wing closely corresponds. Although a fragment from the middle of the costal margin, and the whole outer half of the lower margin with the apex are missing, the form of the wing can be estimated with considerable probability. The costal margin is in ''eneral strongly convex, but is flat in the middle third, the basal portion rapidly ascending, aim the apical as rapidly descending ; the apex was probably roundec lut a little produced, and the hinder border pretty uni- formly and fully rounded, making the middle the broadest part of the wing, where the breadth is probably contained about three times in the length; toward the base the wing narrows rapidly, but at the extreme base more gradually above so as to be almost pedunculate. The marginal vein forms the border. The mediastinal vein is at first inclined slightly downward, then ascends as gently, parting slightly from the marginal, but again in the mid- dle of the wing commences most gradually to approach it, running toward the extremity of the wing in close contact with it, but apparently not joining it until just before the apex and beyond the preserved part of the fossil ; throughout it partakes of the course of the margin, but in a less exaggerated form, ascending slightly beyond the basal part, then straight in the middle, gently arcuate apically ; it is connected with the margin, so far as can be made out, by a single straight cross vein somewhat before the middle of the wing. The scapular vein follows a similar course as the mediastinal, always about as far removed from it as it is from the margin, excepting in the apical third ; where its distance from the mediastinal is slightly greater, so as to carry its' termination, no doubt, exactly to the tip of the wing ; no cross veins can be seen to connect this vein with the mediastinal. No other veins can be traced at the extreme base of the wing between the scapular and the lower margin ; but at a short distance (about 2-3 mm.) from the base of the scapular vein, and where its course turns from a descending to a longitudinal direction, a strong trans- verse vein depends from it, directed a very little obliquely outward, and reaching from one- third to one-half way to the lower margin of the wing ; and from near and at the lower extremity of this stout transverse vein, other longitudinal veins arise. The uppermost arises from the middle of the lower half of the vein, at a distance from the scapular much greater than the scapular from the costal margin at this point ; at first it tends upward, parallel to 18 SCDDDER ON THE DEVONIAN the costal margin, but very soon divides into two main stems. Tliese two stems I take to be : the upper the nuiin scapular branch, of which the transverse \ein is the base ; the lower the externomedian vein, amalgamated with the former at the base, the two being com- parable, as will be shown further on, to the same nervures in the Odonuta. The connection of the main scapular branch with the veins preserved in the field beyond cannot be directly traced ; but from the position of the latter the following account must be sub- stantially correct. It runs in a nearly straight course .to the middle of the apical half of the wing, where from not following the arcuate course of the main scapular vein it has diverged considerably from it ; here its straight course suddenly terminates, but it passes to the same point on the apical margin (just below or at the apex), by a gentle arcuation subparallel to but distant from the main scapular vein, with which it appears to be nowhere connected by cross veins. This main scapular branch emits two basal and several apical inferior offshoots ; tho apical offshoots are thrown off at wide angles, at sub- equidistant intervals from the arcuate portion of the main branch, the first at its bend being abruptly and widely forked not far from its origin, the others being simple and the interspaces apparently free from cross veins. The basal offshoots are probably thrown off (their origin is destroyed) at a little distance either side of the end of the basal third of the wing ; and, unlike the apical offshoots, certainiy diverge at a very slight angle, and are each similarly forked ; the first from the base is forked near its origin, and its upper fork is again divided narrowly about half way to the margin, the general course of all the near- vules of this basal offshoot being broadly arcuate. The other and outer basal offshoot soon runs parallel to the main scapular branch, .nd is connected with it by a straight oblique cross vein in the middle of the wing, where It fork;? ; a short distance further on a piece is broken from the middle of the wing, and the part beyond is displaced a little with refer- ence to it, and apparently folded a little so as to obscure the exact course of these forks ; which seem to become involved with the fork of the first of the apical offshoots, with which, as well as with each other, they are connected by weak, inequidistant, straight, direct or oblique cross veins. The externomedian vein can be traced in all its parts, excepting an insignificant portion of the tip of the outer of its branches; the main stem takes an arcuate course, parallel to the basal offshoot of the main scapular branch, and terminates on the lower margin just beyond the middle of the wing ; half way from the transverse basal vein to the margin it throws off an inferior branch, which soon becomes parallel to it (and where it becomes so is connected by a cross vein to the vein below) and, by an interpolated vein, which appears as a baseward continuation of this inferior branch, to a bent cross vein in the same interspace, just beyond the middle of the basal half of the wing ; this cross vein is bent on the externomedian side of the interspace. The inter- nomedian vein is compound, being broken at the lower extremity of the transverse basal vein (before which it is not seen) into two compound branches, each throwing off a couple of inferior curved offshoots to the margin, which are connected together by two sets of cross veins, — one belonging only to the nervures of the upper branch, and in continuation of the direct cross nervure in the externo-internomedian interspace ; the other set cover- ing both branches and broken, each succeeding vein being carried successively further in, the general course of the whole series being across the middle of the intemomedian '! i IN I: INSECTS OF NEW BRUNSWICK. 19 area, Bub-parallel to the outer seriefl ; one or two of the nervulcH in this area are briefly forked next to the border. The anal veins cannot be Heen. The length of the fragment is 40 mm.; the probable length of the wing 42 mm.; its breadth at the middle is 14 mm., reduced at base to 4 mm. The most important vein in this wing is the scapular, whoso branches occupy about half the outer margin ; the externomedian is comparatively unimportant, the interno- median occupying a larger area. The more striking features of the wing besides this are : the origination of the principal scapular branch (from which all the scapular nervules arise) and the externomedian vein from a common stem, having its source in a transverse basal nervule ; and the meagreness of the transverse neuration, which in no place shows any sign of reticulation. The point first mentioned finds no parallel among insects excep- ting in the Odonata, where it is almost precisely similar. There, as 1 attempted to show many years ago in treating of the structure of the wings of recent and of fossil Neurop- tera, the transverse vein termed the arculus in modern nomenclature should be considered as made up of two veins meeting each other for the upper of the two longi- tudinal nervures which always originate from it belongs to the scapular vein, while the lower belongs to the externomedian. Here, these two veins appear, at least, to be amal- gamated at the base, but it is not impossible, and would indeed seem a priori more prob- able, that they run side by side by side to the arculus, and are merely connate in appear- ance from the preservation of the fossil. However, this may be, it would seem as if we had in this peculiar structure the presence of an arculus as a forerunner at this early day of the specialized type of Odonata ; the main scapular branch arising from the arculus is here, as in all normal modern Odonata, the principal vein of the wing,' from which most of the subsidiary branches arise ; in these two points this fossil wing is distinctively and decidedly Odonate in character ; but if one looks further, one fails to find expected fea- tures, now, and even in Jurassic time, invariably corellated with those mentioned ; espec- ially is a nodus to be sought in vain ; the marginal vein runs without break to the tip of the wing ; for, although it cannot be followed from want of its perfect preservation, all the neighboring veins can, and the number is similar throughout. So too the fine mesh- work of Odonate wings is not only absent, but what cross neuration exists is confined to a dozen or so straight veins for the whole wing. If, however, we consider this uppermost offshoot from the arculus as the main branch of the scapular, and simply imagine the arculus-structure removed, so as to bring this main branch directly and plainly dependant from the scapular vein, one cannot fail to see how close the entire structure would be to what we find in the Sialina. In the latter group indeed, there is no such separation of apical and basal offshoots to the main scapular branch as here, but all the scapular nervules take their rise, not from the vein itself, but as here from a principal scapular branch, arising far back on the scapular vein ; the general relations of the different areas of the wing are also much the same in both, while the cross venation is very similar. Here as there, the internomedian vein and its branches are of more impor- tance — cover a wider area and bifurcate far more — than either the externomedian vein on the one side, or the anal on the other. We have here, therefore, as I pointed out ' It is termed vena principalis in the modern nomenclature not arise in the same way as in other Odonata, but has trans- of students of Odonata. In some Calopterygidae it does ferred its origin to the scapular (median) itself. 5 >}> p^ifi 20 SCUDDEll ON THE DEVONIAN wlicn (IrKt culling nlfontion to thin foHnil, the «Mntinptlvo fontiiron of two tolornMy well fop- nrati'd giotipH coinbiiu'd in one individual : eertuin i'eatureN of the wing are dintinctively Sialid in cliaracUT ; oIIrth occur novliere l)Ut in tlie Odonata. Yet lliche two groups belong, one to the Neuroptera i)roper, the other to the IVeudoneuroptera, and we find here the earlient proof of their common origin, in a wing whone t^pe is more dihtinctly Hynthetic than any other known. It KeeniH alno to bring new and unanticipated evi- dence in HUpport of my view of the homologicH of the vein arining from the arciduH in Odonata. It iH plainly impossible for uh to place thin insect in any known family of Neuroptera. It must be considered the first known member of a family, forming the connecting link between iho Neuroptera proper and Pseudoneuroptera, and will be evidence, in so far a» it goes, of a closer connection between these two groups, than between tlie latter and ()r- thoptera. For this family I would propose the name of Ilomothetidae, and would char- acterize it as a family of Neuroptera («<««« /f///on), allied to Sialina, but in which the prin- cipal scapular branch, instead of originating as in ^ialina directly from the main stem, usually near tlie middle of the wing, arises in common with or close beside the externo- median vein, from an arculus near the base of the wing, connecting the scapular and inter- nomedian veins ; and in which, further, the basnl and apical ofli^hoots from this nuiin scapular stem are diflerentiated, instead of exhibiting a similar and uniform character. This insect was found in plant bed No. 8, of Professor Ilartt's section, the highest in the series as developed at the Lancaster locality. VI. Dyscritus vetustus. pi. 1, fig. 4. Dyscritits vetiishis Scudd., Geol. mag., v, 172, 176 (1808). Mentioned without niimc, as probably idmtical with one of tlic other species, in my letter to Professor Hartt : Or the devonian insects of New Brunswick, p. 1 ; Bailey, Obs. geol. south. New Br., 140; Amer. journ. sc, (2) xxxix, 357; Can. nat. geol., (n. 8.)ii, 234; Trans, ent soc. Lond., (3) i, 117 — all in 1865. The insect briefly mentioned hitherto under this name has not before been figured, and is the least important of the devonian wings. It consists of only a small fragment of a wing, which shows a bit of the lower margin with three or four curved veins running toward it, and connected rather uniformly with one another by cross veins forming quadrate cells. It is plainly distinct from all the others, for the equivalent region in no case is similarly broken. In Lithentomvm Harttii the corresponding region is indeed not preserved, but the cross veins in the neighboring parts, although weak, straight and direct as here, are so very infrequent and irregular that we cannot presume the parts which are wanting below them to be very different. The veins preserved are four in number. The uppermost has two inferior branches at short distances, of which only the extreme base of the outer is preserved, while the inner is traceable throughout its extent ; it parts from the main vein, which in the brief portion preserved runs nearly parallel to the lower margin, at an ordinary angle and passes in a regular arcuate downward course to the margin. The three veins below this take a course sub-parallel to this, and are sub-equidistant ; the upper, at the base of the INSECTS OF NEW BBUN8VVICK. 21 pnrt proflcrvod, ih a little nenrer to the vein nl>»)ve, .ind to itn firHt brnnch, than to the vein below, and may pownibly, not improbably, be a braneh of the firnt vein mentioned, parting from it further toward lh« bane than the fracture of the npecimen allowH uh to nee; the two veins below it Heem to belong together ; the bit of nuirgin prenerved, covering only two internpaceH, i» slightly convex. The croHH veinw are weak, but tolerably uniform, and either direct or Hlightly obli(|f a principal longitudinal vein, whose course would nuike it terminate eit! er at the very tip of the .wing, or, if it aflerwards curved considerably, very near the extremity of the h)wer margin. This principal vein probably belongs either to the scapular or exter- nomedian, while the lower curved veins n])pear like branches of the internomedian vein. The wing cannot therefore be referred to the vicinity of either Platephemera or Gereph- emera, both on account of the relations to each other of the veins, and of the nature of the reticulation, the latter being certainly polygonal in this region in both these genera ; while the irregular course of the veins themselves in Platephemera and their considerable apical divarication in Gerephemera constitute peculiarities not observed in the simple frag- ment under discussion. So far as the course of the veins is concerned it can be much better, and indeed very well, compared to Dictyoneura and its allies ; but in all these insects the interspaces are fdled with a minute polygonal reticulation (wherever it is preserved), which is such a characteristic feature that Dyscritus can by no possibility be considered as very closely allied to them. The neuration is altogether different in Xenoneura, finding nothing at all comparable in this region. The longitudinality of the veins throughout Lithentomum seems to forbid any clo-^e comparison with it. But in Homothetus we do find some points in common with Dyscritus ; for while the reticulation is much more sparse in the former, there is a certain regularity about it similar to what we have in the latter, while the curving of the internomedian veins and their parallelism certainly resemble in a general way the same features in Dyscritus. And if we presume the fragment of Dyscritus to be broken from near the middle of the wing, we may see a not distant resemblance between the longitudinal vein of Dyscritus and its two visibly connected branches, and the main branch of the scap- ular vein in Homothetus ; while the upper, independent, curved vein of Dyscritus may be taken perhaps for the externomedian vein, and the other two nervules for branches of the internomedian vein. The resemblance is at least sufficient to make us believe we have here a clue to its relationship ; while at the same time it differs so much from it that we cannot associate the two even generically ; for if they are to be compared in this way at all, the lower stem of the main scapular branch, as seen in Homothetus, must either have become single and simple in Dyscritus, or it must have assumed the longitudinality and mode of bifurcation of the upper stem. There is nothing, however, in the fragment to show what the connection of the main scapular branch may have been, and consequently nothing to prevent the reference of this wing to the Sialina, where the relations of the veins would be the same. Judging Illp 91 SCITDDER ON THE DEVONIAN by onmpariMon of what wo havo pronumod to bo Himilar partn, wo may nuppono thin wing to havo boon Hlightly hirgor than that of IIomothetuH /ohhUih, and itM probable length not far from 60 mm. Whatever views are held of the npccial homologien of the voinn, itH right to generic dis- tinction from IIomothetUH, to which it is moHt closely allied, must bo ooncodod on the ground of the greater simplicity of the neuration. On account of the insignificance of tho fragment, however, and the consequent impos- sibility of any sure clue to its alRuitios, it would not have been worth while to confer upon this wing a distinctive generic name, oven granting its generic dissociation from all others, were it not for tho extreme interest attaching to any insect fragment of such high antiquity. The remains were found in plant bed No. 8, of Professor Hartt, the highest in the Lan- caster series. VII. LlTHENTOMUM IIaUTTII. PI. 1, fig. 3. Lithentomum Hnrttii ScuDD., Can. nat. geol., (n. s.) in., 200, fig. 4 (1807); — Ib., Geol. mag., iv, 387, pi. 17, fig. 4 (1807); Id., Daws., Acad, geol., 2d ed., 626, fig. 183 (1808) ; — Ib., Amer. nat., i, 030, pi. 10, fig. 6 [Hartli] (1808); — Ib., Geol. mag. v, 172, 170 (1808); — Pack., Guide ins., 77, 78, pi. 1, fig. 6 (1869). Mentioned without name, as the third species, in my letter to Professor Ilartt : On the devonian insects of New Brunswick, p. 1; Bailey, Obs. geol. south. New Br., 140 ; Amer. journ. BC, (2) xxxix, 357 ; Can. nat. geol., (n. s.) ii, 235 ; Trans, ent. soc. Lond., (3) II, 117 — all in 1805. The lolic to which this name has been given is tho central upper portion of a wing in a very fragmentary condition, but with a bit of the upper margin suthcient to enable one to determine pretty positively the homologies of the veins. A fragment of Calainites has unfortunately covered tho base and lower part of the wing, but one or two of the veins appear through it at what must be the very base of the wing, and help to determine its nature. The fragment preservea is 30 mm. long, and 15.5 mm. broad; but the wing was probably 55 mm. long, and perhaps 20 mm. broad, if one may judge from its general appearance only ; it certainly repressnts a large insect. The marginal vein forms the border. The mediastinal vein in the basal half of the wing, and probably for some distance beyond, runs parallel to and at considerable dis- tance fr' the border, with which it is connected by very weak oblique cross veins at irregul:.! ntervals, '.vhich toward the base are considerably more oblique than further outward ; this weak construction of the costal margin renders it probable that the wing was a hind one. The scapular vein in the basal quarter of the wing runs in very close proximity to the mediastinal, then parts from it a little, and continues sub-parallel to it, but a little nearer to it than the latter to the border ; there appear to be no cross nervules between these veins, but a slight and irregular tortuous longitudinal line like a mere puckering of the membrane ; at some distance before the middle of the wing this vein puts forth at a slight angle an inferior branch, which takes nn arcuate course sub-parallel to the vein, and is forked about as far beyond the middle of the wing, apparently, as it arose anterior to it, both offshoots taking a longitudinal direction. m IN^RCTH OP NEW BUITNSWICK. 23 Tho t'xternometlian v«in next th« baM« of tlie wing i« Hoinowlmt (liHtant from th« nciip- nlur, is atUtrwunlH Htill further ruuioved from it, and. in tlio middle half or more of the wing, han a Homewliat irregidar, HinuouH, longitudinal courne, Hulnparallel to the Hcapular vein ; juht before the end of the banal ((uarter it appearH to have a ntraight ob- licjue inferior branch widely divergent from it ; thin in the vein next the lower margin of tho fragment ; by itH courHC it woidd appear to bo a branch of the externomedian, but ii iM not impoHHible that it may be the internomedian vein ; whichever it in, it IbrkH in tho middle of tho Hocond quarter of the wing, each fork being ntraight, nimple and Hlightly divergent. From tho point where tluH inferior l)ranch nppearH to be thrown oil' from tho externomedian vein, a Huperior branch appearn alno to be emitted ; it Hcarcely partH from the vein and ruuH only a Hhort distance along tho internpace in a nearly Htraight line and then dicH out. Beyond thiM the externomedian vein throww ofl* two, ho far an can bo seen Hiiiiple, branchoH, which are nearly ntraigla, obliciuely longitudinal, and part from the vein, one at the middle of the wing, the other a nhort diHtanoe before it or just below tho branch of the scapular vein. Tho interspaceH thus formed below tho scapular vein are very unequal and variable in breadth, giving the neuration a feeble uncertain appearance, which is heightened by the irregular distribution of the cross veins, which, although nearly idways straight and transverse, sometimes bridge the narrowest, sometimes the broadest parts of the interspaces ; they are exceedingly feeble and infroijuent, the largest number being found in tho interspace between the scapular and externomedian veins, although they may have been present in some of the areas where they cannot now be seen. Wo shall seek in vain to accommodate this wing in any of the modern families of Neuroptera. There are none excepting the Ephemeridae, the Embidac and perhaps the Raphidiidae, in which the externomedian vein has such a preponderating importance, and in none of those do tho scapular or externomedian veins have a structure at all similar. The structure of the scapular vein is somewhat similar to what we find in the 8ialina, but is widely difl'erent from it in the paucity of tho oflshoots of the scapular branch, in vhich this wing is comparable to Xenoneura only. The structure of the externomedian vein is also distantly similar to that of the Sialina, but in this family, in modern times at least, the number of principal branches is always fewer, they never assume such a longitudinal course, and never cover so great an area. Wo must, therefore, separate this group from all known families, as one having its nearest affinities to Sialina in modern times, and perchance to Xenoneuridae in the ancient ; and, considering it as in some sense a precursor of the Sialina, may call it Cronicosialina.* It should be looked upon as a family of Neuroptera proper, of feeble neuration, in which the scapular vein emits a main branch near the middle of the wing, which, running nearly parallel to thg main vein, emits one or at most two subsidiary, also longitudinal, simple offshoots. The externomedian vein, tolerably distant from the former throughout, terminates near the tip of the wing, emitting two or three branches at very uneq: . " distances apart, all of them longitudinal and all but the basal simple ; the irregular interspaces thus formed are crossed at very unequal distances by very feeble but straight cross veins. The lower veins are unknown. This specimen is the most obscure of all the devonian insects and would have been overlooked by any less keen-sight :d observer than the late Professor C. F. Hartfc. ' Kpovtxof, old faghioned. m SCUDDER ON THE DEVONIAN isi ! Very few persona seeing it would recognize it as an insect, yet it was the first insect found by him which he recognized as such. It is on this account that I have selected this of all the devonian wings to commemorate his discovery. It comes froir plant-bed No. 8, the highest in the series. VIII XeNONEURA ANTIQUORUM. PI. 1, figs. 5, 6, 7. Xenoneura antiqnorum Scudd., Can. nat. geol, (n. s.) in, 206, fig. 6 (18C7); — Ib., Geol. mag., IV, 387-88, pi. 17, fig. 5 (1867); — Ib., Daw^ , Acad, geol, 2d ed., 525-26, fig. 184 (1868); — Ib., Amer. nut., ii, 163, fig. 1 (1868); — 1b., Geol. mag., v, 174, 176 (1868). Mentioned without name, as the fifth species, in my letter to Professor Ilartt : On the devonian insects of New Brunswick, p. 1 ; Hailey, Obs. geol. south. New Br., 140 ; Amer. journ. sc, (2) xxxix, 357; Can. nat. geol., (n. s.) ii, 235; Trans, ent. soc. Lond., (3) ii, 117, — all in 1865; see also Amer. journ. sc, (2) XL, 271. This fossil is represented by a fracturod basal fragment of a wing, probably including a little more than half of it. It is the smallest of the devonian insects, the wing having probably measured only a little more than 18 mm. in length. It was long and slender, broadest near the middle, and probably tapered to a rounded but somewhat produced extremity, as in certain species of Dictyoneura. The costal border in the preserved por- tion (probably a little more than half of the whole) is gently convex ; probably beyond the middle it is straight nearly to the tip, as represented on the plate ; the portions of the lower margin preserved indicate that this was more strongly arcuate but not full next the base ; the direction of the margins and the course of the distant veins indicate, as stated, a tapering tip, which was probably ro;mded, and in no way angular. The marginal vein fonns the border. The mediastinal vein is simple nnd gently orcu- ate ; at first ^t curves gently in the opposite sense to the margin, from which it is some- what distant, and with which it is connected by faint, neo-rly transverse, or, away from the base, gently oblique cross veins, not very closely approximated. At the beginning of the second quarter of the wing, it is about as distant from the scapular vein as from the mar- gin, and thereafter runs nearly parallel with the latter, but with a slightly stronger curve, to a little past the middle of the wing ; where it suddenly terminates in a cross vein bent at a right angle, the upper half a little the longer, by which it is connected with the veins on either side of it ; a somewhat similar termination of this vein is shown in Goldenberg's figure of Dictyoneura Ubelluloides. The scj. pular vein is one of the most important in the , wing. In the part of the wing preserved it is very straight. Next to the base it is in exceedingly close proximity to the mediastinal; diverging gently from it by the curve of the latter at about the end of the basal fifth of +he fragment, until it is as distant from the mediastinal as the mediastinal is from the margin, and again gradually approachas it ; it is about equidistant from the bor- der at the end of the fragment, and where the mediastinal diverges from it ; beyond the tip of the mediastinal, it probably continues its straight course at first, or even trends slightly upward to take the place of the mediastinal vein, until it 's in close proximity to the border, and then follows nearly the curve of the latter, gradually approaching it until INSECTS OP NEW BRUNSWICK. 25 near the tip ; but the track of the vein beyond the tip of the mediastinal is of course conjectural. At a little beyond the end of the first third of the wing, it emits at a considerable angle an inferior branch, which, at about half way from its base to the tip of the mediastinal, or at just ibout the middle of the wing, begins to curve, so as to assume a direction parallel to the main vein, and at the same time forks ; this whole branch is very faint, and is almost effaced at the fork next which the wing is fractured. To judge from the course of the other veins, one and only one of the offshoots of that branch is again simply foiked ; which, it would be impossible to say ; but the upper ofifehoot (with its upper fork, if it divides) most probably runs sub-parallel to, and at considerable distance from, the main scapular vein, very gradually approaching it, especially apically where it curves dov award, until it terminates, probably at the very apex of the wing. The sketch in fig. 5, however, represents the lower branch as forked, ut a little post its middle ; there can be little doubt that the branches impinge upon the margin at about the distance apart that is indicated, or at a little less distance apart than the branches are seen to abut on the fragment of the lower margin which is preserved. The only question is concerning the basal attachmcni of the vein which strikes the border the second below the scapular vein itself ; if not attached as represented in the plate, it originates from the branch of the scapular vein at probably a little less than half the distance between its first forking and the apex. The vein lying next below this, and which appears on the plate (fig. 5) to have a double attachment to the scapular vein, seems to be the externomedian vein. That its basal half, like that of the preserved portion of the scapular branch, is very faintly indicated on the stone seems due to some accident of preservation, for ..its apical branching part is distinct. It appears to originate from the scapular vein a a little more than half way from the base of the wing to the origin of the scapular branch ; its basal portion must therefore be either connate with the scapular vein, or be so closely connected with it by the accident^ of preservation as to be inseparable from it. It diverges from the scapular at the same angle as the scapular branch, is very soon connected with the adjacent vein below by a short cross nervule of unusual distinctness, bends outward a little beyond this cross nervule, and at an equal distance beyond is again ^ient to its former course ; here it is connected to tlie scapular vein by a faint oblique cross vein, which is almost exactly continuous with the subsequent part of the externomedian, and reaches the scapular vein directly above the distinct cross vein above mentioned ; thus giving the mediastinal vein the appearance of having a double base, and enclosing between its basal attachments an elongated subrhomboidal cell. Beyond these basal divisions the vein runs in a straight oblique course to just before the centre of the wing, where it forks widely, the upper branch being simple and excepting for a gentle arcuatl.n at its base nearly straight and a little more longitudinal than the main stem ; the lower branch nearly continues the direction of the main stem, and at a little less than half way to th^ marjm forks, again widely, but symmetrically, the offshoot being simple, the upper again forked half way to the margin, the final uppt fork being nearly horizontal and striking the border in the middle of the apical half of the wing. !. i: ■; I Hi K \.\. 1 ,: .!■ ■fi - .' ! g| SCUDDER ON THE DEVONIAN The internomedian vein seems to be represented by two widely separated simple veins, the course of" which, so far as they can be traced, would seem to indicate that they have a common origin very near or at the base of the wing, directly below the common stem of the scapular and externomedian veins. The upper branch first comes into view directly beneath this stem, running parallel to it, and not very far away from it, but at double the distance from it that the mediastinal vein is at this point, which is before th*^ end of the basal quarter of the wing ; when the mediastinal vein curves upward from the scapular, this curves downward in about the same degree, unti' it reaches the distinct short cross vein which unites it, as before stated, to the externomedian vein ; here it ^ends downward, becomes more distinct than any of the nervules between it and the main scapular vein (previously it had been rather inconspicuous), aiM runs in a nearly direct faintly arcuate course to the middle of the lower margin of the wing, gently diverging throughout from the externomedian vein and its nearer branches. The lower branch is first seen in the very centre of the basal third of the wing, from which point it passes in a nearly straight course almost parallel to the distincter portion of the other branch, and is as heavily marked. The anal vein is perhaps simple, i-unning at first downward and curving outward, subparallel to but distant from the lower basal margin, becoming just before the middle of its regular course straight and distinct, when it diverges slightly from the border of the wing, and inclines distinctly although not greatly toward the lower internomedian branch, con- tinuing in this course until it reaches a distinct oblique Cross vein which unites it to the latter in the middle of the basal half of the wing ; here it bends abruptly downward at right angles to the cross vein, and runs doubtless into the margin ; the cross vein is nearly transverse to the interspace in which it lies, and is about parallel to, and is of the same length as, the upper limb of the bent cross vein in which the mediastinal vein terminates. Next the basal margin of the wing is a brief simple shoot directed almost vertically downward, which may be an inferior basal branch of the anal vein. The other lines between the internomedian veins and the margin, seen in fig. 5, represent merely fractures in the stone. Besides the three distinct cross veins mentioned, — (1) that in which the mediastinal vein terminates, (2) that between the upper internomedian branch and the externomedian vein; and (3) that connecting the lower internomedian branch and the anal vein — and the weak cross veins visible in the interspace above the mediastinal vein (of which only those in the basal half are represented in fig. 6), there are in various parts of the wing exceedingly indistinct, very weak, very closely approximated, but unequally distant cross veins, transverse or nearly transverse to the interspaces, sometimes curved but never showing any tendency to unite so as to form any kind of reticulation ; it is probable that they exist throughout the wing, or at least below the main scapular vein ; they are most distinct in +he externomedian interspaces, and in those on either side of the internomedian branches, especially next the nervules themselves, as may be seen in fig. 5 on either side of the lower internomedian branch, where they are more distinct than in any other part of the wing ; this mode of fracturing the interspaces, rather than reticulation, is the more marked from the exceedingly open and distant neuration. ■=■■•*,.. INS3CTS OP NEW BRUNSWICK. 27 Besides these normal features of neuration there are some other characteristics in this wing, purposely left for description to the end. These are some peculiar marks near the base of the wing, originally described -by me as " apparently independent veinlets, forming portions of concentric rings." These ridged rings overlie the probable position, as here described, of the basal part of the lower intemomedian branch, and lie just beneath the initial divergence of the mediastinal and scapular veins ; they consist of an alternate series of broken concentric grooves and furrows, some faint, others in places very distinct, extending over nearly half the width of the wing at this point, L e., almost reaching the upper branch of the intemomedian vein on the one hand and the anal vein on the other; the most distinct are three short, shallow furrows, with very rounded low ridges between them upon the upper side, next the upper branch of the internomed"d,n vein ; the outer of these is distant from the extreme mark upon the opposite side about 2.2 mm. ; the central region, rather less than a milli- meter in diameter, presents a slightly elevated, irregular, granulated surface, like many of the rougher parts of the stone outside the wing, and has no peculiar structure ; the whole lies directly upon what would be the continuation of the lower branch of the intemo- median vein were it present, and apparently obliterates it; one of the outermost grooves, an extremely faint and delicate one, crosses the anal vein at a very sharp aflgle. This peculiar feature in the wing I formerly compared to the stridulating apparatus of the Locustariae, and suggested that this insect thereby united characteristics now found only separated, some in Neuroptera and some in Orthoptera. Several naturalists, e. g., Darwin, Dawson, and Packard, following my suggestion, have used this as a striking illustration of synthetic character in early types of animals, and have pictured this as the earliest example of stridulation. I am now obliged to confess that I have led them altogether astray; this peculiarity, although bearing a strong superficial resemblance to the stridulating organs in Locustariae, having, I believe, nothing whatever to do with the wing itaelf The stridulating apparatus of Or- thoptera, whenever it concerns the wings, is invariably based on a modification of existing veins; in its simplest fonns it is the mere thickening of certain nervules, ant. furnishing them with a sharp or rough edge. In the original appearance of a stridulating organ in insects, we should look for some such simple form as the initial stage. But in this fossil wing we find nothing of the sort; no one of the concentric lines or grooves are continuous with any of the neighboring veins. The only appearances which favor such a view are: (1) the openness of the neuration at this pomt, which allows thi.- great scar to lie at the base of the wing without disturbing more than one of the veins ; (2) the curve of the anal vein, which has the appearance of passing around this obstruction ; but the course of which is in keeping with the curve of the lower margin of the wing, equally explaining it; and (3) the curve of the cross veins in the neighborhood of the scar, as seen on either side of the lower intemomedian branch in fig. 6; which veins, however, when narrowly examined, are seen to form angles with the more prominent concentric grooves and ridges. These ridges, too, are not of a form suitable for the production of sound, the depressions or elevations, being extremely smooth and gradual ; they are also of very unequal size and thickness ; they do not occur in the anal area, as in all Locustariae, but in the intemomedian; SCTTDDER ON THE DEVONIAN I and they have just sufficient regularity to render it most probable that the central, irregular, rough, and slightly elevated mass is either the relip of a foreign substance, which has fallen upon the wing, subsequent pressure upon which, when the membrane of the wing formed, so to speak, a part of the floor upon whioh it lay, has caused the mud and membrane together to assume the present appearance ; or, that we chance here to have stumbled on a wing which, in the nymph condition, has met with some accident, producing in the imago a blister-like distortion, such as those figured by Mocquerys, as ouggested to me by Dr. Hagen, in the elytra of Cardbus monilia, Mesonphalia gibba, Timarcha rugosa, and as must have been observed in the veined wings of insects of the other orders by all entomologists This last supposition would better account for the greater prominences of the peculiar markings around one part of the scar than elsewhere, and for the apparent partial conformity of the cross venation to the contour of the tear. Whichever way it be considered, it does not now appear to me reasonable to maintain my former hypothesis of a stridulating organ, to which nevertheless there is, as stated, a remarkable general resemblance. That such a stridulating organ would be a great anomaly no one can question, and the proposition should not be maintained in the face of the objections which careful and prolonged study and comparison elicit. But putting aside its extraneous features, we may discuss the affinities of this insect on the basis of the unquestionable characteristics of its neuration, and shall find in these enough to excite our interest and even to perplex us. In its general features the wing is plainly neuropterous. It would appear from the strength of the margin to be an upper wing, and in its form to resea. jle that of many true Neuroptera ; its sweeping forking bmnches with direct transverse cross venation attest the same proposition, but when we come to compare it with known types, we shall find it extremely difficult to place it. Its very open neuration is one general feature which is peculiar ; the presence of two or three very prominent cross veins, with an extreme mvdtitude of feeble cross veins never breaking up into an irregular reticulation, is certainly strange ; so is the termination of the mediastinal vein, and still more the entire simplicity and extreme separation of the intemomediou veins, occupying so large an area of the wing without a fork, and connected in so unusual a manner with the veins on either side ; the apparent absolute amalgamation of the bases of the scapular and externomedian veins in siich early insects is very unexpected ; — and all combine to form an ensemble which is the odder for the general simplicity of the neuration. It would be hard to say \vhich is the most prominent vein in the wing; the scapular, externomedian and intemomsdian occupy about equal areas, and while the two former branch more than the latter, their nervtdes are compar- atively much feebler. In the openness and sparseness of the* neuration and in the paucity (but not at all in the position) of the principal cross veins, it bears a certain resemblance to the Coniopterygidae and to no other neuropterous family ; but the differences are far greater and more important than the resemblances and scarcely need be stated. There are also some features which give it a sialidan appearance ; if we suppose, as we may, that the second nervule reaching the margin below the main scapular vein arises from the main scapular branch, we shall have a condition of the scapular vein \ :;ry like that of the SIj,lma, excepting in the slight number of ofishoots from its branch, which would be very abnormal; in the near or actual amalgamation of the externomedian 'M '■ . i' INSECTS OP NEW BRUNSWICK. ,T^F with the scapular vein, vhere is also nothing to separate it from the Sialina, excepting their anaalgamation for so great a distance ; but the structure of all the other veins and the peculiarities of the cross venation is very diflferent from the same points in the Sialina. In the course of most of the main veins and their mode of branching, it has some resemblance to the Raphidiidae, but it has no affinity whatever with that group in the peculiar directions of the nervules and their connection by distant cross veins, so as to form large polygonal cells, which is one of the most striking of the characteristic features of Raphidiidae. The apical two-tliirds of the wing (excluding, therefore, the attachments of most of the veins) are in sufficient harmony with these parts in the carboniferous Dictyoneurae to presume, at first, that the wing will fall in the ancient order of Palaeodictybptera. As yet, however, we know too little of the extent and even of the peculiar characteristics of this group to say whether cr not the structure nf the base of the wing will allow its location here ; certainly it will not admit its being placed in the siame family with the genus Dictyo- neura ; and at present thiEi is, perhaps, all that we can say until the structure of all the ancient wings shall have been most carefully studied. It is in large measure in those points of structure which Dictyoneura shares with the Ephemeridae, that Xenoneura is comparable c^ ^ormev, and we therefore see in this wing ephemeridan, sialidan, raphidian and coniopterygidan features, combined with others peculiar to itself. Whatever the closest affinities of the wing may prove to be, it must certainly, by its combination of characters, bridge over the gulf now separating the wing features of Neuroptera and Pseudoneuroptera ; and these various considerations assure us of its family distinction from any known ancient or modern type of Neuroptera, and of the propriety of applying to the group it represents the family name of Xenoneuridae. This species, with Gerephemera simplex, came from the lowest insect-producing beds of the Lancaster ShpJes, called plant bed No. 2, by Professor Hartt. IX. General Summary. It only remains to sum up the results of this re-examination o" the devonian insects, and especially to discuss their relation to later or now existing types. This may best be done by a separate consideration of the following points : 1. There is nothing in the structure of these earliest known insects to interfere with a former conclusion ^ that the general type of wing structure has remained unaltered from the earliest times. Three of these six insects (Gerephemera, Homothetus and Xenoneura) have been shown to possess a very peculiar neuration, dissimilar from both carboniferous and rr idem types. As will also be shown under the tenth head, the dissunilarity of structure of all the devonian insects is much greater than would be anticipated ; yet all the features of neuration tin be brought into perfect harmony with the system laid down by Heer. 2. TTiese earliest insects were hexapods, and as far as the record goes preceded in time both arachnids and myriapods. This is shown only by the wings, which in all known insects belong only to hexapods, and in the nature of things prove the earlier apparition of that group. This, however, is so improbable on any hypothesis, that we must conclude the record to be defective. i " ^^ : " 1 i The early types of insects. Mem. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist., Ill, 21. 30 8CUDDER ON THE DEVONIAN I' , 'M t '/t ■ J I II > m ' V. 8. They were all lower Heterometahola. Ka wings are the only parts preserved, we cannot tell from the remains themselves whether they belong to sucking or to biting insects ; for, as was shown in the essay already referred to, this point mu t be considered undetermined concerning many of the oldest insects until more complete remains are discovered. They are all allied or belong to the Neuroptera, using the word in its widest sense. At least two of the genera (Platephemera and Gerephemera) must be considered as having a closer relationship to Pseudoneuroptera than to Neuroptera proper, and as having indeed no special affinity to the true Neuroptera ot'uer than is found in Palaeodictyoptera. Two others (Lithentomum and Xenoneura), on the contrary, are plainly more nearly related to the true Neuroptera than to the Pseudoneuroptera, and also show no special affinity to true Neuroptera other than is found in Palaeodictyoptera. A fifth (Homothetus), which has comparatively little in common with the Palaeodictyoptera, is perhaps more nearly related to the true Neuroptera than to the Pseudoneuroptera, although its pseudo- neuropterous characters are of a striking nature. Of the sixth (Elyscritus) the remains are far too imperfect to judge clearly, but the choice lies rather with the Pseudoneuroptera or with Homothetus. The devonian insects are then about equally divided in structural features between Neuroptera proper and Pseudoneuroptera, and none exhibit any special orthopterous, hemipterous or coleopterous characteristics. 4. Nearly all are synthetic types of a comparatively narrow range. This has been stated in substance in the preceding paragraph, but may receive additional illustration here. Thus Platephemera may be looked upon as an ephemerid with an odonate retic- ulation ; Homothetus might be designated as a sialid with an odonate structure of the main branch of the scapular vein ; and under each of the species will be found detailed accounts of any combination of characters which it possesses. 5. Nearly all hear marks of affinity to the carboniferous Palaeodictyoptera, either in the reticulated surface of the wing, its longitudinal neuration, or both. But besides this there are some, such as Gerephemera and Xenoneura, in which the resemblance is marked. Most of the species, however, even including the two mentioned, show palaeodictyopteran characters only on what might be called the neuropterous side ; and their divergence from the carboniferous Palaeodictyoptera is so great that they can scarcely be placed directly with the mass of palaeozoic insects, where we find a very common type of wing structure, into which the neuration of devonian insects only partially fits. For : 6. On the other hand, they are often of more and not less compli<.ated structure than most Palaeodictyoptera. This is true of the three genera mentioned above with peculiar neuration, but not necessarily of the others, and it especially true when they are com- pared with the genus Dictyoneura and its immediate allies. There are other Palaeodicty- optera in the carboniferous period with more complicated neuration than Dictyoneura, but these three devonian insects apparently surpass them, as well as very nearly all other carboniferous insects. Furthermore : 7. With the exception of the general statement under the fifth head, they hear little sjiedal relation to carhoniferous forms, having a distinct fades of thdr own. This is very striking ; it would certainly not be possible to collect six wings in one locality in the carboniferous rocks, which would not prove, by their afi&uity with those already INSECTS OP NEW BRUNSWICK. 81 At known, the carboniferous age of the deposit. Yet we find in this devonian locality not a single one of the Palaeoblattariae or anything resembling them ; and more than half the known insects of the carboniferous period belong to that type. The next most prevailing carboniferous type is Dictyoneura and ' its near allies, with their reticulated wings. Gcrephemera only, of all the devonian insects, shows any real and close affinity with them ; and even here the details of the wing structure, as shown above, are very different. The apical half of the wing of Xenoneura (as I have auppoHed it to be formed) also bears a striking resemblance to the dictyoneuran wing ; but the base, which is preserved, and where the more important features lie, is totally different. The only other wing which shows particular resemblance to any carboniferous form (we must omit Dyscritus from this consideration, as being too imperfect to be of any value) is Platephemera, where we find a certain general resemblance to Ephemerites Buckerti Gein., and Acridites prisctts Andr., but this is simply in the form of the wing and the general course of the nervules ; when we examine the details of the neuration more closely we find it altogether different, and the reticulation of the wing polygonal and not quadrate as in the carboniferous types.* In this respect indeed, Platephemera differs not only from all modern Epbemeridae, but also from those of other geological periods.' Another prevailing carboniferous type, the Termitina, is altogether absent from the devonian. Half a dozen wings, therefore, from rocks known to be either devonian or carboniferous, would probably establish their age. 8. TTie devonian inaects were of great size, had membranous wings, and were probably aquatic in early life. The last statement is simply inferred from the fact that all the modem types most nearly allied to them are now aquatic. As to the first, some state- ments have already been made ; their expanse of wing probably varied from 40 to 175 mm. and averaged 107 mm. Xenoneura was jnuch smaller than any of the others, its expanse not exceeding four centimetres, while the probable expanse of all the rest was generally more than a decimeter, only Homothetus falling below this figure. Indeed if Xenoneura be omitted, the average expanse of wing was 121 mm., an expanse which might well be compared to that of the Aeschnidae, the largest, as a group, of living Odonata. There is no trace of coriaceous structure in any of the wings, nor in any are there thickened and approximate nervules — one stage of the approach to a coriaceous texture. 9. Some of the devonian insects are plainly precursors of existing forms, while others seem to have left no trace. The best examples of the former are Platephemera, an aberrant form of an existing family ; and Homothetus, which, while totally different in the combination of its characters from anything known among living or fossil insects, is the only palaeozoic insect possessing that peculiar arrangement of veins fotmd at the base of the wings in Odonata, typified by the arculus, a structure previously known only as early as * Dr. H. B. Geinitz has kindly re-examined Ephemerites RUckerti at my request, and states that the reticulation is in general tetragonal, but that at the extreme outer margin the cells appear in a few places to be elliptical five- or six- sided. ,, -,:.-J--- . ' The Dictyoneurae and their allies, as may be inferred, f,re considered as belonging to the Palaeodictyoptera, although their ephemeridan &iiinities are not disregarded. 32 SCUDDKR ON THE DEVONIAN > I': I im 'i .!.( -ri^i the Jurassic. Examples of the latter are Oerephemera, which has a multiplicity of simple parallel veins, next the costal margin of the wing, such as no other insect, ancient or modem, is known to possess ; and Xenoneura, where the relationship of the internomedian branches to each other and to the rest of the wing is altogether abnormal. If too, the concentric ridges, formerly interpreted by me as possibly re resenting a stridulating organ, should eventually be proved an actual part of the wing, we should have here a structure which has never since been repeated even in any modified form. 10. They show a remarkable variety of structure, indicating an abundance of insect life at that epoch. This is the more noticeable from their belonging to a single type of forms, as stated imder the seventh head, where we have seen that their neuration does not accord with the commonjr type of wing structure found in palaeozoic insects.* These six wings exhibit a diversity of neuration quite as great as is found among the hundred or more species of the carboniferous epoch ; in some, such as Platephemera, the structure is very simple ; in others, like Homothetus and Xenoneura, it is somewhat complicated ; some of the wings, as Platephemera and Gerephemera, are reticulated ; the others possess only transverse cross veins more or less distinct and direct. No two wings can be referred to the same family, unless Dyscritus belongs with Homothetus — a point which cannot be determined from the great imperfection of the former. This compels us to admit the strong probabili y of an abundant insect fauna at that epoch ; although man^ palaeozoic localities can boast a greater diversity of insect types, if we look upon their general structure as developed in after ages, not one in the world has produced wings exhibiting in themselves a wider diversity of neuration ; for the neuration of the Palaeo- dictyoptera is not more essentially distinct from that of the Paloeoblattariae or of the ancient Termitina, than that of Platephemera or Gerephemera on the one hand is from that of Homothetus or of Xenoneura on the other. Unconsciously, perhaps, we allow our knowledge of existing types and their past history to modify our appreciation of distinctions between ancient forms. For while we can plainly see in the Palaeoblattariae the progenitors of living insects of one order, and in other ancient types the ancestors of living representatives of another order ; were we unfamiliar with the divergence of these orders in modern times, we should not think of separating ordinally their ancestors of the carboniferous epoch. It may easily be seen, then, how it is possible to find in these devonian insects* — all Neuroptera or neuropteroiis Palaeodictyoptera — a diversity of wing structure greater than is found in the carboniferous representatives of the modem Neuroptera, Orthoptera and Hemiptera. 11. The devonian insects also differ remarkably from all other known types, ancient or modern ; and some of them appear to be even more complicated than their nearest living allies. With the exception of Platephemera, not one of them can be referred to any family of insects previously known, living or fossil ; and even Platephemera, as shown above, differs strikingly from all other members of the family in which it is placed, both in general neuration and in reticulation ; to a greater degree even than the most aberrant genera of that family do from the normal type. This same genus is also more compli- cated in wing structure than its modern allies ; the reticulation of the wing in certain i Cf. Mem. Boat. Soc. Nat. Hist., Ill, 19, note 1. INSECTS OF NEW BRUNSWICK. S3 structurally defined areas in polygonal and tolerably regular, instead of being simply quad- rate; while the intercalated veins are all connected at thoir base, instead of being free. Xenoneura also, as compared with modern Sialina, shows what should perhaps be deemed a higher (or at leoit a later; type of structure, in the ainiilgamation of the externomodian and scapular veins for a long distance from the base, and in the peculiar structure and lateral attachments of the imicrnomedian veins; in the minuter and feebler cross venation, however, it has an opposite character. 12. We appear, therefore, to he no nearer the beginning of things in the devonian epoch, than in the carboniferous, so far as either greater unity or simplicity of structure is concerned ; and these earlier forms cannot be used to any better advantage tlian the carboniferous types in support of any special theory of the origin of insects. All such . theories have required some Zoaea, Leptus, Campodea, or other simple wingless form as the foundation point ; and this ancestral form, according to Haeckel at least, must be looked for above the silurian rocks. Yet we have in the devonian no traces whatever of such forms, but on the contrary, as far down as the middle of this period, winged insects with rather highly differentiated structure, which, taken together, can be considered lower than the mass of the upper carboniferous insects, only by the absence of the very few Hemiptera and Coleoptera which the latter can boast. Remove those few insects from consideration (or simply leave out of mind their future development to very distinct types), and the middle devonian insects would not suffer in the comparison with those of the upper carboniferous, either in complication or in diversity of structure. Furthermore, thej show ^o sort of approach toward either of the lower wingless forms, hypothetically looked upon as the ancestors of tracheate Articulata. 13. Finally, while there are some forma which, to some degree, bear out expectations based on the general derivative hypothesis of structural development, there are quite as many 'i.ohich are altogether unexpected, and cannot be explained by that theory, without involving suppositions for which no facts can at present be adduced. Palephemera and Gerephemera are unquestionably insects of a very low organization related to th« existing may-flies, which are well knoVn to be of inferior structure, as com- pared with other living insects ; these may-flies are indeed among the most degraded of the sub-order to which they belong, itself one of the very lowest sub-orders. Dyscritus too may be of similar degradation, although its resemblance to Homothetus leaves it altogether uncertain. But no one of these exhibits any inferiority of structure when compared with its nearest allies in the later carboniferous rocks, and they are all higher than some which might be named. While of the remaining species it can be con- fidentBly asserted that they are higher in structure than most of the carboniferous types, and exhibit syntheses of character differing from theirs. It is quite as if we were on two distinct lines of descent when we study the devonian and the carbon- iferous insects ; they have little in common, and each its peculiar comprehensive types. Judging from this point of view, it would be impossible to say that the devonian insects showed either a broader synthesis or a ruder type than the carboniferous. This of course may be, and in all piobability is, because our knowledge of carboniferous insects is, in comparison, so much more extensive ; but, judging simply by the facts at hand, it appears that the carboniferous insects carry us back both to the 34 8CTTDDER ON THE DEVONIAN hi I H-i .4 '^■: ! ;l 'V more simple and to the more generalized forms. We have nothing in the devonian I flimple as EuephcmeritcH, nothing so comprehensive as Eugereon, nothing at once Bu simple and comprehensive as Dictyoneura. On the derivative hypothesis, we must presume, from our present knowledge of devonian insects, that the Palacodictyoptera of the carboniferous are already, in that epoch, an old and persistent embryonic type (as the living Ephemeridao may be considered to-day, on a narrower but more lengthened scale); that some other insects of carboniferous times, together with most of those of the devonian, descended from a common stock in the lower devonian or Silurian period ; and that the union of these with the Palaeodictyoptera was even further removed from us in time ; — carrying back the origin of winged insects to a far remoter antiquity than has ever been ascribed to them ; and necessitating a faith in the derivative hypothesis, which a study of the records preserved in the rocks could never alone afford ; for no evidence can be adduced in its favor based only on such investigations. The profound voids in our knowledge of the earliest history of insects, to which allusion was made at the close of my paper on the Early typet of insects, are thus shown to be even greater and more obscure than had been presumed. But I should hesitate to close this summary without expressing the conviction that some such earlier unknown comprehensive types as are indicated above did exist and should be sought. X. Note on the Geological Relations of the Fossil Insects from the Devo- nian OF New Brunswick. By Principal Dawson, LL.D., F.R.S., &o. The beds affording these remains occur in the vicinity of the city of St. John, New Brunswick, and are well exposed on the shores of Courtney Bay, on the east side of the city, and at Duck Cove, Lancaster, on its western side. They consist of sandstones, shales, and conglomerates, having an aggregate thickness of about 7,600 feet,* as shown in the following generalized section, in appending order : — 1. Bloomabury Conglomerate — Redlish-gray conglomerate with interstratified hard red shale. 600 feet. 2. Dadoxylon Sandstone — (Lower part of Little River Group in my Acadian Geol- ogy). Gray sandstone and grit, with beds of gray and black graphitic shale — Fossil plants, etc. 2,800 feet. 3. Cordait" Shales — (Upper part of the Little River Group) — red, gray and black shales, with beds of sandstone and conglomerate — Fossil Plants, etc. 2,400 feet 4. Mispec Conglomerate — Hed conglomerate and shale. 1,800 feet. In the vicinity of St. John, these beds rest on Cambrian rocks of the Acadian (Mene- vian) group, and are overlain unc" uformably by lower carboniferous ("sub-carboniferous") conglomerates, which in their extension eastward are associated with the Albert shales holding fossil fishes and plants of characteristic lower carbonifierous types.' Elsewhere in * Report of Bailey and Mathew, Gcol. Survey of Canada, 1871. In the author's Acadian Geology, the thickness is given as 9500 feet; but later observations have reducei^the thickness of the lower membeta. * See for details the author's Acadian Geology, 3d Edi- tion. \\ INaEOTS OF NEW BRUNSWICK. rontan once must roptcra Southern New Brunswick, they ovorUe laurentiun aid huronian rockH, and are seen to rise unconformahly from honeath the carbonifurouH rockH of the great central coal-for- mation area of New BrunHwick.' They are everywhere more diHturbod and altered than the overlying carboniferouH bedH; and Mchhih. Bailey and Mattliew have tthown that certain intrusive moAHCH and dykes of granite, known to be of pre-carboniferoua age, were erupted subsequently to the deposition of these l)edH. The vegetable fossils of this formation are very numerous. I have catalogued or des- cribed from it upwards of 50 species, belonging to the genera Dadoxylon, Sigillaria, Cal- amites, Asterophyllitcs, Lepidodendron, Cordaites, Psilophyton, Neuropteris, Sphen* opteris, Hymenophyllitcs, Pccopteris, &c.; the whole constituting a well-marked devonian assemblage, distinguishable from the upper devonian flora of Perry in Maine, which is perhaps newer than the Mispec conglomerate, and still more distinct from the lower carboniferous flora of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, while on the other hand it is incomparably better developed than any known flora of silurian age. Owing to the richness of this flora, and to the fact that some genera and species of plants appear earlier in North America than in Europe, some European palaeobotanists have been un- willing to admit the devonian age of this formation, but entirely without good reason. That some of the species of the St. John beds, as Calamitea transitionia {=C. radiatua of Brongniart), are found in the lower carboniferous of Europe, is not wonderful, as in the devonian as well as in subsequent periods the flora of America has b(;en somewhat in advance of that of Europe. Still the prevalent plants in the St. John beds are distinctively erian or devonian and not carboniferous. Further, recent discoveries of tree-ferns and petioles of ferns in great abundance in the devonian of New Yoik, and as low as the Hamilton group, have shovm that the devonian must have been even more remarkable than the carboniferous for the abundance and variety of its ferns. A few additional species of ferns found among specimens remaining in Professor Hartt's collections will shortly be described. The crustaceans recognized in these beds are Eurypterua pulicaria Salter ; Amphip "Mia paradoxua Salter, a precursor of the Stomapods ; and a pygidium of a small trilobite, unfortunately too imperfect for determination. A species of Spirorbis, which I have described as S. erianua,' occurs attached to leaves of Cordaites, and is distinct from the common Spirorbia of the coal-measures {S. carbonariua or puaillua). A fragment of a spiral shell may possibly represent a devonian pulmonate, and will be noticed in a forthcoming paper on the pulmonates of the carboniferous. No other animal remains have been found in these beds, except the fossil insects. The conditions of deposit were probably estuariue rather than marine, and the abundant fossil plants testify to the prox- imity of land. It is difficult to correlate the subdivisions of the devonian in eastern Canada, with those in the great erian area of New York and western Canada, owing to the absence of the marine limestones, so characteristic of the latter. In my report on the fossil plants of the- devonian and upper silurian of Canada,' I have, however, stated some grounds * Bailey and Mattbew'B Reports, which see also for details of the structure end rilations of the devonian and associated fornatioDs, in southern New Brunswick. * Re|)ort on devonian plants. Geol. Surv. Canada, 1871. * Geol. Survey of Canada, 1871. 86 HCUDDER ON THE DFVONIAN i I \ ■ 1 ■!"l(i for believing that the Dadoxylon nnndntrne and Cordaite ehnles may be equivalents of the Hamilton group in Nuw York and Ohio, whicr. haii aflbrdod nomo foHHil plantu comparor bio with thoHO of the St. John bodfi, onpccially trunks of conifers of the genus Dadoxylon (Araucaroxylon), The horizon of the fosuil insects of St. John would thus be middle devonian. In the finer Hhalos of this sorios, the remains of plants are very perfectly preserved, the most delicate leaves having not only their outlines but also their nervature repre- sented by films and lines of shining graphite, resembling p mcil drawings on a dark gray ground. The insect wings are preserved in a similar manner. The discovery of the insect remains is wholly due to the late Prof. C. F. Hartt, who, with the aid of other gentlemen, menibers of the Natural History Society of New Bnms- wick, removed by blasting large quantities of the richest fossilifurous beds and examined them with great care. The extreme rarity of these remains renders it probable that but for the large quantities of material examined by Professor Hartt, they would not have been found ; while the extreme delicacy of the impressions would have prevented them from being observed except by a very careful collector scrutinizing every surface in the search for leaflets of ferns, preserved in such a way as to be visible only under the most favorable light. These unusually perfect explorations should be taken into the account in any comparisons made of the fossils of thb locality with those of other places. The following detailed section of the Little River Group, at the Fern Ledges, Lancaster, N. B., where the insects occur, is derived from Professor Hartt's paper in Bailey and Matthew's report before alluded to, and is substantially the same as given in my Acadian Geology. Section at the " Fern Ledges." (Order ascending.) Heavy beds of gray sandstone and flags (Dadoxylon sandstone). Dadoxylon ot/an- gondianum Daws., Calamites, etc. Thickness, by estimation, 300 feet. Under this head I have classed all the beds underlying the Plant-bed No. 1, which I am disposed to regard as the lowest of the rich plant-bearing layers, and the base of the Cordaite shales. These beds occupy the low ground lyin;- between the ridge of the Bloomsbury group and the shore. They are covered by drift, and show themselves only in limited outcrops, and in the ledges on the shore. In the western part of the ledges they are thrown forward on the beach by a fault, forming a prominent moss of rock, in the summit of which a fine trunk of Dadoxylon is seen ombedded in the sandstone. Becent excavations made in the.se beds in quarrying sto^tc i'jt building purposes, in the eastern part of the locality, where the rocka are very miiuh broken up by dislocations, have exposed numerous badly preserved impressions of large trunks of this tree. Plant-bed No. 1 Thickness, 1 foot. Black arenaceous shale, varying from a fissile sandstone to a semi- papyraceous shale, very fine-grained and very fissile, charged most richly with beautifully preserved remains ''f plants, among which ar'e the following species : — Calamites tranaitionis Goeppert. (C. radiatus Br.) Occasional, in large, erect speci- mens. — Asterophyllitea latifolia Daws. Extremely abundant, often showing ten or twelve whorls of leaves, sometimes with many branches. — A. adcularis Daws. Also ■ '*'*V(rff!-t*ffl*-**i»M r INHKCT8 OF NEW BRUNSWICK. very abundant. — A. nnUigera Dawn. Tho curious ■terns of this speciefl, wifh thoir Mculo-arinud noduH, occur abundantly in this bod. — Sphennphyllum anti- quum DawM. — PccojHeriH ohHcurn liOsqx. — SphenrqHerU tip.? — Cardiocarpum cot' '■ nutum DawN. Riiro. — Ps'dophyton elegans Dnwa. Occasional. I have never detected any trace uf Cordaitea Robbii Daws., in tluH bed. It Im extremely common in the overlying Htrata. Gray nandHtones and flagH, with occaMional ill-nreHorvod plants, Calamitea transitionia Ooeppt. — Cordaitea Robbii DawH. — AaterophyUitea and Sternbergiae . 2 feet 6 in. Black arenaceous shalcH of the same character as those of Plant-bed No. 1, but without fossils, so far as I have examined ll inches. Compact flaggy, graj' sandstone, with badly preserved plant r<>mains, Calamitea, etc 2 feet. Very soil, dark, lead-colored shales, much slicken-sided and charged with frag- ments of plants. This bed is so soft that the action of the weather and the sea have everywhere denuded it to ^he level of the beach .... 4 feet. Plant-bed No. 2 1 foot. At tho point whore the section crosses the bed, and where I first discovered it, it con- sists of very compact and hard, light lead-coloured, slate-likr, arenaceous shale ; but the character of the shale varies much in its different exposures, being sometimes very soft and fissile, and of a very black colour. The following is the list of species which it affords : — Calamitea tranaitionia Ooeppt. Occasionally; never in good specimens. — C. cannae- formia Brongn. Occasionally ; never in good specimens. — Aaterophyllitea acicularia Daws. Rather rare. — A. latifolia Daws. Rather rare. — A. longifolia Brongn. (?). Rather rare. — A. parvula Daws. Whorls of a minute Aaterophyllitea, which may belong to this species, are not infrequent in this bed. — Sporangitea acuminata Daws. — Pinnularia diapalana Daws. Abundant. — Pailophyton elegana Daws. Quite common, always in fragments, never in good specimens. — P. glahrum Daws. Flattened stems, with a wavy woody axis traced in a brighter line of graphite, occur in this bed, but always in fragments. — Cor- daitea Robbii Daws. Extremely abundant, and very fine specimens may be obtained, especially from the upper part of the bed, and rarely specimens showing the base or the apex of the leaf. — Cydopteria obtuaa Lesqx. Occurs very abund- antly in detached pinnules. — C. varia Daws. Rare. — Neuropteria polymorpha Daws. Extremely abundant, never in large fronds. — Sphenopteria Hoeninghauaii Brongn. Quite abundant, often in fine fronds. — S. marginata Daws. Abimdant, in fine fronds. — 8. Harttii Daws. Very rare. — ^The original specimen came from this bed. — Hymenophyllitea Geradorffii Goeppt. Rather rare. — H. obtuailobua Goeppt. Rare. — H. curtilobua Daws. — Akthnpteria diacrepana Daws. Amongst all the abundance of plants afforded by Plant-bed No. 2, I have detected only one or two pinnules of this fern, which appears first in abundance in Plant-bed No. 3. It is afterwards one of the most common species. — Pecopteria ingena Daws. Very rare, only two or three fragments of pinnules having been found. — Trichomanitea (?) Only a single speci- men, probably, as Dawson has suggested, only the skeleton of a fern. — Car- 88 SCUDDER ON THE DEVONIAN diocarpum cornutum Daws. Abuud?nt, and very finely preserved, never attached — C. obliquum Daws. Quite abundant, also never attacked. — Trigonocarpum racemoaum Daws. Rare.- -Eurypterua puUcaria Salter. The occurrcince in Plant- bed No. 2 of this minute crustacean was first detected by my friend Mr. George Matthew. It is very rare, not more than four or five specimens having been found by Messrs. Matthew, Payne, and myself at the time of the description of the species by Salter. I hare since that time succeeded in collecting nearly twice as many more, some of which Appear to belong to a new species. — Amphipeltia paradoxus Saltfjt. The rpocimen figured in Salter's paper was found by Professor Dawson and myself, in breaking a piece of shale in my cabinet, that came from this bed. Only one other specimen has since been obtained. It consists of two or more of the thoracic seg> meuts, and was collected by Mr. Lunn. It is iu the collection of the Natural History Society of New Brunswick. In addition to the above species, this bed has afibrded the following: — Cyclopterisy sp. nov — Neuropteris, sp. nov. A single specimen collected by Mr. Lunn. — Snhenopteris, sp. nov. — Spirorbia erianua Daws. The leaves of Cordaites in the uppei- part of the bed are as thickly covered with a little Spirorhia as are the fronds of the recent fucoids of the Ledges. The specimens are poorly preserved. — Trilohites. Mr. Payne collected a minute trilobite from from this bed, but it proved not determinable. — Insect Remaina ! In the sum- mer of 1862, 1 discovered an organism in Plant-bed No. 2, which at the time I could make nothing of; but which I have since proved to be the wing of an insect. Several weeks after, I found in Plant-bed No. 8 an unequivocal insect's wing. This discovery was followed by that of others, my father, J. W. Hartt, finding another in this bed. [The insects of this bed are Gerephemera. simplex and Xenoneura antiquorum.] Compact flaggy sandstone, quite barren 5 feet 10 inches. Plant-bed No. 3 10 inches. Black and lead-colored shales, quite compact in upper part, but in lower very crum- bling, splitting irregularly, slicken-sided, often with polished surfaces, and traversed by thin quartz-veins. These shales are so soft that the sea and weather have everywhere denuded them to the level of the beach. There are now no exposures of the bed work- able. The following are the fossils which occur in it : — Calamitea tranaitionis Goeppt. Occasionally. — C. cannaeforr.iis Brongn. — Aste- rophyllitea latifolia Daws. Very beautiful whorls of this plant are very common here, the whorls, though usually detached, being sometimes found united three or four together. — Sporangites acuminata Daws. Common. — Pinnuloria dispalans Daws. Common. — Psilophyton elegans Daw Occasionally. — ^P.(?) glahrum Daws. Occasionally. — Cordaites Robhii Daws. Extremely abundant, but not so ' well preserved as in Plan'l.i>r»r,.i, J.ili liiil,.