. The Cambridge natural history. Zoology. DRAGON-FLIES 427 in opinion as to which of the two should be considered the more primitive. It is therefore of much interest to find that there exists an Insect that shares the cliaracters of the two primitive subfamilies in a striking manner. This Insect, Falaeophlebia superstes (Fig. 272), has recently been discovered in Japan, and is perhaps the most interesting dragon-fly yet obtained. De Selys Longchamps refers it to the subfamily Calepteryginae, on account of the nature of its Avings; were the Insect, however, deprived of these organs, no one wou
. The Cambridge natural history. Zoology. DRAGON-FLIES 427 in opinion as to which of the two should be considered the more primitive. It is therefore of much interest to find that there exists an Insect that shares the cliaracters of the two primitive subfamilies in a striking manner. This Insect, Falaeophlebia superstes (Fig. 272), has recently been discovered in Japan, and is perhaps the most interesting dragon-fly yet obtained. De Selys Longchamps refers it to the subfamily Calepteryginae, on account of the nature of its Avings; were the Insect, however, deprived of these organs, no one would think of referring Palaeo- phleiia to the group in question, for it has the form, colour, and appearance of a Gomphine Odonate. Moreover, the two sexes. Fig. 272. — Palaeo- phlehia superstes. A, The Insect with wings of one side and with two legs removed ; B, front view of head of female ; C, of male. (After De Selys.) differ in an important character,—the form of the head and eyes. In this respect the female resembles a Gomphine of inferior development; while the male, by the shape and large size of the ocular organs, may be considered to combine the characters of Gomphinae and Calepteryginae. The Insect is very remark- able in colour, the large eyes being red in the dead examples. We do not, however, know what may be their colour during life, as only one pair of the species is known, and there is no record as to the life-history and habits. De Selys considers the nearest ally of this Insect to be Hetey^opTilehia clislocata, a fossil dragon- fly found in the Lower Lias of England. ISTumerous fossil dragon-flies are known; the group is well represented in the Tertiary strata, and specimens have been found in amber. In strata of the Secondary age these Insects. Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original
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