Insect Limestone Research Articles

On the taxonomic position of the genera Krundia, Breukoscelis, and Uphodato (Hemiptera, Auchenorrhyncha, Fulgoroidea) described from the Insect Limestone of the Isle of Wight

On the taxonomic position of the genera Krundia, Breukoscelis, and Uphodato (Hemiptera, Auchenorrhyncha, Fulgoroidea) described from the Insect Limestone of the Isle of Wight

True flies (Insecta: Diptera) from the late Eocene insect limestone (Bembridge Marls) of the Isle of Wight, England, UK

ABSTRACTThe Diptera fauna from the late Eocene of the Isle of Wight (Bembridge Marls) is studied including redescriptions of formerly described material. The fauna includes the following taxa: Anisopodidae – one species; Bibionidae – 11 species; Ceratopogonidae – one described and two unidentified species; Chironomidae – undetermined species of three subfamilies; Culicidae – four species; Cylindrotomidae – one species; Dixidae – one species; Keroplatidae – one described and four unidentified species; Limoniidae – 31 species; Mycetophilidae – 14 species; Psychodidae – two species; Scatopsidae – two species; Sciaridae – three species; Simuliidae – an unnamed species; Tipulidae – nine species. Diptera Brachycera: Agromyzidae – unidentified species; Anthomyzidae – two species; Asilidae – two species; Bombyliidae – one species; Chloropidae – one species; Dolichopodidae – unidentified species; Empididae – unidentified species; Ephydridae – two species; Heleomyzidae – unidentified species; Lauxaniidae – unidentified species; Otitidae – one species; Phoridae – unidentified species; Rhagionidae – two species; Stratiomyidae – two species; Syrphidae – unidentified species; Tabanidae – one species. Following new taxa are described:Leptotarsus(Longurio)fragmentatusKrzemiński, n. sp.,Leptotarsus(Longurio)wegierekiKrzemiński, n. sp.,Tipula(s. lato)anglicanaKrzemiński, n. sp. (Tipulidae);CyttaromyiarossiKrzemiński, n. sp. (Cylindrotomidae);Gurnardia coramiKrzemiński, n. gen, n. sp.,Pilaria hooleyiKrzemiński, n. sp.,Pilaria volodiiKrzemiński, n. sp.,Cheilotrichia (Cheilotrichia) duplicataKrzemiński, n. sp.,Cheilotrichia (Empeda) szwedoiKrzemiński, n. sp.,Symplecta (Psiloconopa) gurnetensisKrzemiński, n. sp.,Orimarga (Orimarga) lenaeKrzemiński, n. sp.,Dicranomyia (Dicranomyia) azariKrzemiński, n. sp.,Dicranomyia (Dicranomyia) fasciataKrzemiński, n. sp.,Helius (Helius) edmundiKrzemiński, n. sp.,Helius (Helius) popoviKrzemiński, n. sp.,Dicranoptycha staryiKrzemiński, n. sp. (Limoniidae);WightipsychodaAzar, n. gen. (Psychodidae);Dilophus andrewrossiNel, Colomb & Waller, n. sp.,Bibiodes massiliensisNel, Colomb & Waller, n. sp. (Bibionidae);Azana cockerelliBlagoderov, n. sp.,Aglaomyia vectisBlagoderov, n. sp.,Dziedzickia oligocenicaBlagoderov, n. sp.,Palaeoempalia saxeaBlagoderov, n. sp.,MycomyahooleiBlagoderov, n. sp.,Leia gurnardensisBlagoderov, n. sp. (Mycetophilidae);RegmocleminahaenniiKrzemiński, n. sp. (Scatopsidae);Sylvicola problematicaKrzemiński, n. sp. (Anisopodidae);Palaeoberidops barkeriNicholson,n. gen., n. sp. (Stratiomyidae). The Diptera fauna and palaeohabitat of the Insect Bed is discussed.

Corrigendum to “The beetle (Coleoptera) fauna of the Insect Limestone (late Eocene), Isle of Wight, southern England” [Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh110, 405–92, 2019

Corrigendum to “The beetle (Coleoptera) fauna of the Insect Limestone (late Eocene), Isle of Wight, southern England” [Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh110, 405–92, 2019] - Volume 110 Issue 3-4

Aphids, true hoppers, jumping plant-lice, scale insects, true bugs and whiteflies (Insecta: Hemiptera) from the Insect Limestone (latest Eocene) of the Isle of Wight, UK

ABSTRACTRepresentatives of the Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha, Fulgoromorpha, Cicadomorpha and Heteroptera from the Late Eocene of the Isle of Wight, UK, are analysed and discussed. Psylloidea were reviewed and a key to the described taxa is given. Aphidoidea were studied, previously described taxa revised and new taxa described. New taxa of Aphidoidea are Hormaphididae:Hormaphis?longistigmaWegierek sp. nov.; Eriosomatidae:Eriosoma gratsheviWegierek sp. nov. andColopha? incognitaWegierek sp. nov.; Drepanosiphidae:Panfossilis anglicusWegierek gen. et sp. nov. andBetulaphis kozloviWegierek sp. nov. Previously described Fulgoromorpha were revised and new taxa are described. The homonymHastitesCockerell, 1922 (Cixiidae) preoccupied byHastitesMayer-Eymar, 1883 is replaced byCatulliastitesSzwedo nom. nov. forCatulliastites muiri(Cockerell) comb. nov. New taxa described are Cixiidae:Klugga gnawaSzwedo gen. et sp. nov.,Klugga regoaSzwedo sp. nov.,Liwakka gelloaSzwedo gen et sp. nov.,Delwa morikwaSzwedo gen. et sp. nov.,Kommanosyne wrikkuaSzwedo gen. et sp. nov.,Kernastiridius nephlajeusSzwedo gen. et sp. nov.,Margaxius angosusSzwedo gen. et sp. nov.,Dweivera reikeaSzwedo gen. et sp. nov.,Samaliverus bikkanusSzwedo gen. et sp. nov.,Komsitija tuberculataSzwedo gen. et sp. nov.,Langsmaniko marousSzwedo gen. et sp. nov.,Komnixta jarzembowskiiSzwedo gen. et sp. nov. andWorodbera nimakkagen. et sp. nov.; Tropiduchidae:Reteotissus hooleyiSzwedo gen. et sp. nov.,Phatanakogen. nov. forPhatanako wilmattae(Cockerell) comb. nov.,Senogaetulia kwaleaSzwedo gen. et sp. nov.,Dakrutulia mikhailkozloviSzwedo gen. et sp. nov.,Keriophettus atibenusSzwedo gen. et sp. nov. andSognotela emeljanoviSzwedo gen. et sp. nov.; Issidae:Krundia korbaSzwedo gen. et sp. nov.,Breukoscelis vadimgratsheviSzwedo gen. et sp. nov.,Breukoscelis phrikkosusSzwedo sp. nov. andUphodato garwoterusSzwedo gen. et sp. nov.; Nogodinidae: Ambitaktoinae Szwedo subfam. nov.,Ambitaktoa stoummaSzwedo gen. et sp. nov.,Phariberea gurdonikaSzwedo gen. et sp. nov.,Wixskimoa torxseaSzwedo gen. et sp. nov., and Nadrimini trib. nov. withNiadrima yuleiSzwedo gen. et sp. nov.; Lophopidae:Ankomwarius brodieiSzwedo gen. et sp. nov.; Ricaniidae:Ankwlanno blugaSzwedo gen. et sp. nov. Previously described Cicadomorpha were revised and new taxa are described: Cicadidae:Kintusamo boulardiSzwedo gen. et sp. nov; Aphrophoridae:BlenniphoraSzwedo gen. nov. forBlenniphora woodwardi(Cockerell) comb. nov.,Blenniphora skakaSzwedo sp. nov. andBlenniphora bikkanoaSzwedo sp. nov.;Luisphantyelus briwusSzwedo gen. et sp. nov.,Natajephora lijankaSzwedo gen. et sp. nov.; Cercopidae:Berro enissuextaensisSzwedo gen. et sp. nov.; Cicadellidae: Mileewinae:Teniwitta andrewrossiSzwedo gen. et sp. nov. Formerly described true bugs (Heteroptera) are revised and several new taxa are described – Nepomorpha: Corixidae:Diacorixites szwedoiPopov gen. et sp. nov.; Cimicomorpha: Tingidae:Parasinalda wappleriPopov sp. nov.,ViktorgolubiaPopov gen. nov. forViktorgolubia seposita(Cockerell) comb. nov.; Miridae:Gurnardinia herczekiPopov gen. et sp. nov.; Pentatomomorpha: Lygaeidae: Gurnardobayini Popov trib. nov.,Gurnardobaya rossiPopov gen. et sp. nov.; Cydnidae:Eocenocydnus lisiPopov gen. et sp. nov.; Pentatomidae:Podopinites coloratusPopov gen. et sp. nov. andPodopinites acourti(Cockerell) comb. nov. An overview of the Late Eocene fauna of the Hemiptera is presented. Ecological and biogeographical patterns of the Hemiptera from the Isle of Wight deposits are discussed.

The beetle (Coleoptera) fauna of the Insect Limestone (late Eocene), Isle of Wight, southern England

ABSTRACTA review of the faunistic composition of the coleopterous taphocenoses from Bembridge Marls is given. Only two families (Cupedidae and Carabidae) have been recorded from this site before. A total of 31 families have been revealed and determined in the course of the recent study, and 42 species have been described:Agabus latissimusPonomarenko, sp. nov. andIlybius gratsheviPonomarenko, sp. nov. from Dytiscidae;Neothanes europaeusPonomarenko, sp. nov. from Carabidae;Spercheus punctatusPonomarenko, sp. nov.,Spercheus wightensisPonomarenko, sp. nov. from Spercheidae,Hydrochara woodwardiPonomarenko & Soriano, sp. nov. andBerosus barclayiPonomarenko & Soriano, sp. nov. from Hydrophilidae;Ochthebius rossiKirejtshuk, sp. nov.,Eolimnebius fossilisKirejtshuk, sp. nov.,Hydraenites gracilimmusKirejtshuk, sp. nov.,Metacoxites ventritalisKirejtshuk, sp. nov.,Davidraenites gratsheviKirejtshuk, sp. nov.,D. interruptusKirejtshuk, sp. nov. andD. spurcusKirejtshuk, sp. nov. from Hydraenidae;Aphodius vectisKrell, sp. nov. andPentodon dorcusKrell, sp. nov. from Scarabaeidae;Scirtes calcariferensKirejtshuk & Ponomarenko, sp. nov.,Scirtes khnzoryaniKirejtshuk & Ponomarenko, sp. nov.,Scirtes metepisternalisKirejtshuk & Ponomarenko, sp. nov.,Scirtes wightensisKirejtshuk & Ponomarenko, sp. nov.,Contacyphon insularisKirejtshuk & Ponomarenko, sp. nov.,Contacyphon involutusKirejtshuk & Ponomarenko, sp. nov. andContacyphon kozloviKirejtshuk & Ponomarenko, sp. nov. from Scirtidae;Eucinetes nikolaevaeKirejtshuk & Ponomarenko, sp. nov. from Eucinetidae;Macropunctum rossiAlexeev, sp. nov. from Elateridae;Byrrhites bembridgensisKirejtshuk, sp. nov. from Byrrhidae;Paralichas striatopunctatusKirejtshuk, sp. nov. from Ptilodactylidae;Trixagus barclayiKirejtshuk, sp. nov. from Throscidae;Themus(?Telephorops)polyakiKirejtshuk, sp. nov. from Cantharidae;Attalus flexusKirejtshuk, sp. nov. from Malachiidae;Epuraea(Epuraea)kozloviKirejtshuk & Kurochkin, sp. nov.,Phenolia(Lasiodites)vanescensKirejtshuk & Kurochkin, sp. nov.,Prometopia europaeaKirejtshuk & Kurochkin, sp. nov.,Cyllodes argutusKirejtshuk & Kurochkin, sp. nov. andCoxollodes palaeogenicusKirejtshuk & Kurochkin, sp. nov. from Nitidulidae;Telmatophilus britannicusKirejtshuk & Kurochkin, sp. nov. from Cryptophagidae;Corticariites kozloviKirejtshuk, sp. nov. from Latridiidae;Orthoperites antiquusKirejtshuk & Kurochkin, sp. nov. from Corylophidae;Octotemnites sepultusKirejtshuk, sp. nov. from Ciidae;Cyclodinus efficaxKirejtshuk, sp. nov. from Anthicidae; andPlateumaris robustusKurochkin & Kirejtshuk, sp. nov.,Plateumaris rubiconisKurochkin & Kirejtshuk, sp. nov. andPlateumaris wightensisKurochkin & Kirejtshuk, sp. nov. from Chrysomelidae.ByrrhitesKirejtshuk, gen. nov.,CorticariitesKirejtshuk, gen. nov.,DavidraenitesKirejtshuk, gen. nov.,EolimnebiusKirejtshuk, gen. nov.,HydraenitesKirejtshuk, gen. nov.,MetacoxitesKirejtshuk, gen. nov.,OctotemnitesKirejtshuk, gen. nov. andOrthoperitesKirejtshuk & Kurochkin, gen. nov. are proposed as taxa, partly as formal ones with generic rank and include species described herein. ForPlateumaris rubiconissp. nov., a new subgenusNecrodexisKurochkin & Kirejtshuk, subgen. nov. is proposed. A brief review of the published fossil records for the groups considered in the paper is made. The probable ecological circumstances of the lives of the groups and species considered are discussed in the paper, and comparison with other Palaeogene sites and some conclusions on probable climatic circumstances have been elaborated. The taxonomic interpretation of three fossil species from the Caenozoic is reconsidered. It is shown that the genusMiocyphonWickham, 1914 can be scarcely regarded as a close relative of representatives of either Dascillidae or Scirtidae. ‘Phenolia'incapaxScudder, 1890 andLithomacratriaWickham, 1914 are regarded here without family attribution, the first as a member of Cucujiformia (i.e., out of Nitidulidae) and the latter as a member of the superfamily Tenebrionoidea (i.e., out of both Anthicidae and Pyrochroidae).

The fauna and flora of the Insect Limestone (late Eocene), Isle of Wight, UK, volume 2: Preface

The fauna and flora of the Insect Limestone (late Eocene), Isle of Wight, UK, volume 2: Preface

The Blattodea (cockroaches), Mantodea (praying mantises) and Dermaptera (earwigs) of the Insect Limestone (late Eocene), Isle of Wight, including the first record of Mantodea from the UK

ABSTRACTThe fossil cockroaches (Blattodea), praying mantises (Mantodea) and earwigs (Demaptera) are described from the Insect Limestone (Priabonian) of the Isle of Wight, southern England. Three new species of cockroach are described in the family Ectobiidae –Phyllodromica protosardeasp. nov.,Balta protosimilissp. nov. andMalaccina?wightensissp. nov. – and a further nine indeterminate species are presented (based on ten specimens). The only known specimen of praying mantis is described asProtohierodula crabbigen. et sp. nov. in the family Manteidae, which constitutes the first record of Mantodea from the UK. The only known specimen of earwig is an incomplete juvenile belonging to the superfamily Forficuloidea.

Vertebrate remains from the Insect Limestone (latest Eocene), Isle of Wight, UK

ABSTRACTA small fauna of vertebrates is recorded from the Insect Limestone, Bembridge Marls Member, Bouldnor Formation, late Priabonian, latest Eocene, of the Isle of Wight, UK. The taxa represented are unidentified teleost fishes, lizards including a scincoid, unidentified birds and the theridomyid rodent Isoptychus. The scincoid represents the youngest record of the group in the UK. Of particular note is the taphonomic interpretation based on the preservation of anatomical parts of land-based tetrapods that would have been most likely transported to the site of deposition by wind, namely bird feathers and pieces of shed lizard skin. These comprise the majority of the specimens and suggest that the dominant transport mechanism was wind.

The Flora of the Insect Limestone (latest Eocene) from the Isle of Wight, southern England

ABSTRACTLatest Eocene fossil plant remains occur in concentrations within blue-grey micrite known as Insect Limestone near the base of the Bembridge Marls Member (Bouldnor Formation, Solent Group), Isle of Wight, southern England. Some of the previously reported taxa (collections in the Natural History Museum, London) are not preserved within the Insect Limestone. These (e.g., all Arecaceae (palms)) are excluded from the floral list. New non-destructive techniques have yielded additional taxonomic information. Leaves previously assigned to Ficus and Fagus are now incertae sedis. Wetland elements are abundant, particularly Typha, but also Acrostichum, Azolla, Potamogeton, Sparganium and others. Non-wetland elements are rare. Trees and shrubs included representatives of Betulaceae, Caprifoliaceae, Juglandaceae, Lauraceae, Rhamnaceae (the sclerophyllous Zizyphus), other flowering plants and several genera of conifers. There are rare specimens of possible herbaceous plants and propagules with plumes or awns, the latter possibly an early fossil record of Clematis. The common plant remains were probably derived from vegetation near a freshwater body, sometimes with slight brackish influence, whilst rarer elements were probably blown in from a greater distance. There is little evidence of plant–insect interaction; one leaf with small galls, a stem containing an insect larva and a possible association between stratiomyid flies and Typha.

Mollusca from the Insect Limestone (Bembridge Marls Member: Bouldnor Formation: Solent Group), Palaeogene, Isle of Wight, southern England

ABSTRACTMolluscs from the Insect Limestone of the Bembridge Marls Member are described. The gastropodsLymnaea(Galba)longiscata(Brongniart 1810),Planorbarius discus(Edwards 1852),Gyraulus similisFérussac, 1814,Hippeutis headonensisJodot, 1942, Viviparuslentus(Solander 1766) andViviparus angulosus(J. Sowerby 1817) indicate freshwater alkaline conditions. The cerithioid gastropodTarebia acuta(J. Sowerby 1822) probably represent more brackish conditions.Polymesoda(Pseudocyrena)obovata(J. Sowerby 1817) is the only bivalve present. All were potentially washed into the depocentre. Despite a wide outcrop of the Insect Limestone on the Isle of Wight's northwest and northeast coasts, there are no records of molluscs other than from the Gurnard/Thorness Bay area on the northwest coast of the island.

Tertiary bark lice (Insecta: Psocodea) from the Insect Limestone (Bembridge Marls, Late Eocene) of the Isle of Wight, UK

ABSTRACTLate Eocene fossil Psocodea from the Isle of Wight are studied and classified within three new genera and seven species (Wightipsocus acourti (Cockerell 1921) gen. nov. et n. comb., Wightipsocus intasi gen. et sp. nov., Wightipsocus rossi gen et sp. nov., Awightipsocus jarzembowskii gen. et sp. nov., Awightipsocus megaloi gen. et sp. nov. Awightipsocus minimus gen. et sp. nov. and Wightimicropsocus inexpectatus gen. et sp. nov.) without however attributing them to any family. A key for fossil Psocodea from the Isle of Wight is given.

The fauna and flora of the Insect Limestone (late Eocene), Isle of Wight, UK: introduction, history and geology

ABSTRACTThe Insect Limestone has long been known as a source of exquisitely preserved insects and other arthropods. It occurs on the north side of the Isle of Wight and is latest Eocene in age. A summary of the history of the study of the Insect Limestone is given, along with detailed stratigraphical and sedimentological information. This paper is the first in a thematic set of papers.

The wasps, bees and ants (Insecta: Vespida=Hymenoptera) from the Insect Limestone (Late Eocene) of the Isle of Wight, UK

ABSTRACTThe types and undescribed material of the hymenopteran fossils of the Insect Bed of the Bembridge Marls from the Isle of Wight (UK) are critically revised and studied. A total of 1460 fossils are recorded and attributed to 20 families: Gasteruptiidae s.l. (1); Proctotrupidae (3); Diapriidae (24); Cynipidae (7); Figitidae (6); Pteromalidae (1); Agaonidae (3); Scelionidae (12); Platygastridae (2); Ichneumonidae (32); Braconidae (75); Bethylidae (3); Crabronidae (2); Sphecidae (1); Apidae (2); Scoliidae (1); Tiphiidae (2); Vespidae (4); and Formicidae (1220). Described as new are 51 species, 13 genera, two tribes and two subfamilies. Minimum number of species recorded (either as described species or representing higher taxa with no described species in the assemblage) is 118. The composition of the hymenopteran assemblage is most similar to that of Baltic amber and indicative of a well forested territory, as well as of a humid, equable (aseasonal but not very hot) climate, more typically equable than in the Baltic amber source area, judging from the absence of Aphidiinae and scarcity of aphids.

Spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) from the Insect Limestone (Bembridge Marls, Late Eocene) of the Isle of Wight, southern England

ABSTRACTThe arachnids from the late Eocene Insect Limestone of the Isle of Wight are reviewed. Only spiders (Araneae) have been recorded, of which several dozen are known, mostly juveniles. Nearly all are araneomorphs; the putative mygalomorph Eoatypus woodwardii McCook, 1888 was removed from that infraorder by Selden (2001), but new specimens, yet to be described, could belong in this group. Among the adult specimens, which are thus identifiable to family level, most belong to the argyronetid water-spider Vectaraneus yulei Selden, 2001; some resemble araneids, and a small number can be referred to other families. New morphological information on the holotype of Vectaraneus is presented, and three other specimens are described in more detail here, in Segestriidae, Araneidae and Salticidae. Segestriids are nocturnal sedentary hunters living in tubular retreats in rock or bark crevices. Araneids are the archetypal weavers of orb webs. Salticids are the familiar jumping spiders; the one described here is an ant mimic. Their presence suggests a drier habitat was present somewhere in the source environment for the fossil biota, and they were probably inhabitants of the raised hammocks suggested for the Insect Bed palaeoenvironment.

The fauna and flora of the Insect Limestone (late Eocene), Isle of Wight, UK: Preface

The fauna and flora of the Insect Limestone (late Eocene), Isle of Wight, UK: Preface

The Purbeck Beds of the Vale of Wardour

I. Introduction Although the Purbeck Beds of the Vale of Wardour have been noticed by many observers, and portions of them have been described by many writers from the time of Fitton downwards, no complete description of the whole series has yet been attempted, and a connected account of the Wiltshire Purbecks seems therefore to be a desideratum in geological literature. Fitton gave some account of them in his classical memoir ‘On the Strata between the Chalk and the Oxford Oolite,’ published in 1836, mentioning quarries at Dallard's Farm, Dashlet, Chicksgrove Mill, and Wockley; but since his time the Wockley quarry has been cut back, so as to expose the beds which were then only visible at Chicksgrove. He made no attempt to establish any succession, and thought the total thickness of the series was not more than 60 feet. The Rev. P. B. Brodie, in 1845, published a little book entitled ‘ A History of the Fossil Insects in the Secondary Rocks of England’ in which he gave some description of the Purbect Beds of Land’ in which he gave some description of the Purbeck Beds of the Vale of Wardour, and especially of two beds of limestone, one of which he called the ‘Isopod Limestone,’ because it contained Archœniscus , and the other the ‘Insect Limestone,’ from the abundance of insect-remains in it. Unfortunately, his reference to localities was not very explicit, but it is certain that the quarries “not far from the village of Dinton,” where he saw

On some Fossil Plants from the Lower Lias

T owards the base of the limestone beds, forming the lower division of the lias formation in its extension through the counties of Gloucester, Worcester, and Warwick, and probably even contemporaneous with the liassic deposit in these counties, is found a hand of limestone of a much purer and harder quality than those with which it is associated. This hand of stone is known amongst the quarrymen by the name of “best paving slab,” and is much used throughout the Midland Counties for flooring of barns and farmhouse kitchens; but from its having yielded to the researches of the Rev. P. B. Brodie a beautiful series of insect remains, it is recognized by geologists under the name of “Insect limestone.” The insect remains here referred to have been well figured and described by their discoverer*; and in a résumé of the general characters of these, appended by the excellent entomologist Mr. Westwood, will be found the following observation: “The lias insects resemble forms of ordinary occurrence and of temperate climes, more like North America than Europe†.” Now, as these insects are associated with remains of plants, it cannot be otherwise than interesting to inquire whether the facts as noticed by the entomologist are in accordance with the observations of the botanist, as conclusions supported by the evidence of two distinct sciences must have more weight than when these are conflicting. The object of this paper, therefore, is to describe the vegetable remains associated with insects in the lower lias, and to

On two Species of Microscopic Shells found in the Lias.

The shells of the microscopic order Foraminifera , which occur so abundantly in the cretaceous and tertiary series, are found much more rarely as we descend through the secondary formations. Examples of them have indeed occurred both in the oolitic and the palæozoic series, but I believe that these fossils have not hitherto been met with in the lias. The Rev. P.B. Brodie, while pursuing his interesting and successful researches into the fossil insects of the lower lias, was the first to discover these minute objects. In a bed of yellowish shaly stone, a few feet above the ‘insect limestone’ of wainlode cliff, Gloucesrtershire, he detected small white dots about 1/50th of an inch in diameter, which when examined by a powerful microscope prove to discoid spiral shells, apparently unattached, with five to six smooth, rounded, narrow volutions, devoid of striations or any other distinctive characters. As there are no traces of concamerations, we perhaps ought to refer them to the serpulidæ rather than the Foraminifera , although their extreme minuteness would point to be latter family as a more probable clue to their affinities. It has been suggested to me that their characters resemble those of the genus Orbis of Lea, and I will therefore denominate the fossil provisionally Orbis infimus (see figure a). These fossils also occur ina similar bed of shaly limestone near the base of the lias at Cleeve Bank, between Evesham and Bidford. Along with them I here obtained one specimen of an equally minute fossil, which