Fossil Scorpion. (Bd. pl. xlvi′.)—The discover of a fossil Scorpion in coal-shale, associated with leaves, by Count Sternberg, and of Spiders in the limestone of Solenhofen, by Count Münster, proves the existence at a very remote period of both these insectivorous families of Arachnidans, or spiders (Bd. p. 405). The fossil Scorpion was found in a block of argillaceous shale, at Chomle, in Bohemia. It lies imbedded amidst the carbonized remains of leaves, and a large trifid carpolithe or seed-vessel (see Bd. pl. xlvi′.): by a fortunate separation of the shale, the back or dorsal carapace is shown on one surface; and the thorax, with five or six legs attached, and the abdominal segments, are exposed on the other, together with a fragment of the tail of another and larger Scorpion. The head and eyes, one of the jaws with teeth, and a portion of the skin remain (Bd. pl. xlvi. figs. 3, 4, 5, 6). The horny covering seems to have undergone no change; it is still elastic and transient, and consists of two layers, both retaining their texture, and structure, and exhibiting under the microscope hexagonal cells divided by strong partitions.
Fossil Spiders.—With the numerous insects preserved in the gypseous marls at Aix, of which we shall treat hereafter, Spiders are occasionally found. A beautiful example, showing the under surface of a small spider, with the papillæ of the spinning organs protruded by pressure, from the cabinet of Mrs. Murchison, is figured, Bd. pl. xlvi′. fig 12 In the beautiful lithographic stone of Solenhofen the remains of spiders are not unfrequent.
Fossil Neuroptera.—Of this order, the insects of which are distinguished by their four finely reticulated membranous wings, several fossil species have been found. Some of these are referable to the family Libellulidæ;—insects so well known from their light and elegant figure, their beautiful and variegated colours, their large lustrous wings, and the velocity and gracefulness of their motions.
Lign. 179. Fossil Libellula, or Dragon-fly. Solenhofen.
(Drawn by Mr. Joseph Dinkel.)
In the cabinet of the late Marquess of Northampton.
Fossil Libellulidæ. [Lign. 179].—Of the highly organized family of carnivorous insects, the Libellulidæ, five or six specimens have been discovered in the lithographic limestone of Solenhofen; a beautiful specimen from that locality is represented, [Lign. 179]. In this example both pairs of wings remain, but one wing is pressed down beneath the abdomen: the nervures of the wings are admirably preserved.
A few examples of the remains of this family have been found in the British strata. One species of Libellula and one of Æshna have been found by the Rev. Mr. Brodie in the Purbeck beds of the Vale of Wardour. Two species of Libellula,[496] two of Æshna, and some other allied species have been obtained by Messrs. Strickland, Buckman, Binfield, and Brodie from the Lias. The wing of the Æshna liassina, discovered in the Lias, near Binton, in Warwickshire, by Mr. Strickland, is two inches and ten and a half lines in length, and eight and a half lines in its greatest breadth, being one-third larger than the wing of the largest British species. See Wond. Lign. 119, and p. 528.