64 



dency which even the insects peculiar to saline spots would 

 seem in a large measure to possess, of converging, more or 

 less obviously, to a lurid-testaceous, or pale brassy hue, 

 in their colouring. True it is that we cannot (as above 

 suggested) deduce any evidence of direct physical modi- 

 fications from amongst species which are strictly mari- 

 time, seeing that we have no means of judging in such 

 instances whether similar phenomena would or would 

 not be produced in central districts also : nevertheless 

 we may perhaps detect in this general law some slight 

 indication of the effects which an atmosphere and soil 

 constantly impregnated with salt would be likely to 

 bring about in the external aspect of those members of 

 the insect tribes whose range is sufficiently extensive to 

 expose them to its operation. The bare mention of 

 such names as Nebria complanata and livida, Calathus 

 mollis, Pogonus luridipennis, Trechus lapidosus, Aepus 

 marinus and Robinii, Cillenum laterals, Bembidium scu- 

 tellare, ephippium andipallidipenne, Ochthebius marinus, 

 Psylliodes marcida, Phaleria cadaverina, Helops testa- 

 ceus, and Anthicus instabilis, so eminently characteristic 

 as they are of briny situations, will at once appeal to 

 our native entomologists ; whilst the acknowledgement 

 of the same principle is no less conspicuous in a host 

 of other species which are not included in the British 

 fauna. 



Hence, when we see the tendencies of coloration (not 

 to mention other particulars, often readily apparent) 

 essentially the same, both in insects which are peculiar 



