of the Southern portions of South America. 49 



of necessity very vague, arising from the difficulty there exists of 

 ascertaining the precise spot whence they were procured ; thus I 

 find Chile is the only habitat given for certain species, — undoubt- 

 edly for the most part found in that country, — but then Chile is 

 a district of such enormous extent, especially of latitude, and 

 the parts diffi^r much in climate, and consequently in general 

 features. Thus to the north, is a most dry and arid country, ha- 

 ving scarcely any rain ; generally sandy and stony, and abound- 

 ing in Cacti ; and in the south the opposite characters would apply, 

 wooded (and in many parts with a most luxuriant vegetation), and 

 abundance of rain. The northern arid district will include the 

 provinces of Coquimbo and Copiapo, and the southern Chiloe, Val- 

 divia and Concepcion. Lastly may be noticed the district which 

 may be termed Central Chile, and which is intermediate in its 

 characters ; where there are periodical rains during the months 

 of May, June, July and August, a tolerable abundance of trees in 

 the valleys and low bushes on the sides of the mountains ; it em- 

 braces Valparaiso, Aconcagua and Saniago. 



With such a variety in the physical nature of this country, we 

 can associate no general facts relating to the geographical distri- 

 bution of the insects it contains, when the habitat of Chile only 

 is given for the species ; the following notes, kindly furnished me 

 by Mr. Bridges, will therefore no doubt be acceptable, since they 

 furnish the precise habitats of various Chilian, and some few extra- 

 Chilian Coleopterous insects, and moreover contain observations 

 on their habits. 



1. Megathopa villosa, Eschsch. 



Hab. Quintaro, about ten leagues north of Valparaiso ; buries 

 itself in the ground, under recent cow-dung, to the depth of from 

 four to eight inches. 



2. Phancms imperator, Guer. 



Hab. Mendoza. Buries itself under cow-dung to the depth of 

 about nine inches, making a perfectly round hole like Copris lu- 

 naris. Frequents the sandy fields near Mendoza, and is called by 

 the natives ' Catanga.^ 



3. Brachysternus viridis, Guer, 



Hab. Valparaiso. Makes its appearance as soon as the Lom- 

 bardy poplars are clothed with leaves, and flies about these trees 

 in the evening. 



4. Brachysternus castaneus, Lap. 



Hab. Valparaiso. Flies about in the evening, and often enters 

 the windows of the houses when the candles are lighted. 



5. Polycaon Chiliensis, Lap. 



Found on shrubs in the province of Colchagua, South Chile. 

 Ann. ^ Mag. N. Hist. Vol. xiii. E 



