IOS MELANDEK. 



lands. During the night the males of this species fly freely to 

 lights. A similar habit has been noticed with the Indian species. 

 All of the species, however, require a very definite degree of 

 moisture and hence are restricted in their distribution along the 

 seacoast. A glance at the accompanying map will make this 

 evident. Here are plotted the known patritc of the various 

 species, numbering the localities to correspond with the list of 

 species given before. Where the identification is doubtful a cross 

 expresses the provenience. A comparison of the available and 

 recognizable descriptions of previous authors brings to light sev- 

 eral facts. The old group Olyntha (represented by species 25, 

 29, 20, 27, 6, 1 8, 4, 14, and probably by 19 and 26) though 

 untenable as a genus, yet is comprised wholly of American forms. 

 The only other American species, Hubbardi and cubana are re- 

 lated among themselves and very closely with the Sandwich Is- 

 land species, insularis, which is said to occur in the West Indian 

 island Antigua also. Moreover, insularis is a near relative to 

 Saundersii (21) which has an extended distribution over Borneo, 

 India, Mauritius, Madagascar and Ascension Island. With this 

 species are grouped also the Indian species, Micliadi (13) and 

 bramina (5), and possibly also humbertiana (10, from Ceylon) 

 and hova (8, Madagascar), themselves closely allied and forming 

 small groups. Manritanica (12) and Savignyi (22) are stated to 

 be close relatives, and both live along the southern Mediterra- 

 nean coast. Nigra (15) of Egypt is represented by a variety (?) 

 in Asia Minor. Thus we find a number of groups, natural both 

 in structure and in distribution. The New World forms, excepting 

 those of the West Indian fauna, which probably are derived from 

 an oriental source, stand out alone. Embia Solicri (23) of 

 southern Europe has little affinity with the other species, its 

 nearest relative being antiqua (3) from the Prussian amber, of 

 Tertiary times, a form also with wingless male, and not clearly 

 distinguishable from the living species. India seems to be the 

 point of expression of another group of species (species 13, 5, 

 2 1 , i o) ; of these Saundersii ( 2 1 ) , or forms indistinguishable from 

 it, occurs with a wide island-distribution. It seems to be with 

 these species that citbana and insularis are to be grouped. Aus- 

 tralia, eastern Asia and western South America are, as far as 



