xl ON THE ENTOMOLOGY OF THE 
‘genera appear common to Europe, North America, and India; and in some instances identical species 
have been recognized as existing in Europe and in Asia, as well as ih the New World. It still remains, 
however, with the botanist to determine the similarity of vegetation in Western India and Africa, 
_a similarity which I anticipate will be eventually found to exist, if not at present actually known—a 
similarity I am led to suspect solely from observing a great resemblance in the character of the ento- 
mology of Western India and Eastern Africa.* In many instances cognate species of Insects appear 
both in Africa and Asia, which, by a careless observer, might be considered only as varieties; they are, 
however, on examination, sufficiently distinct, and I therefore think myself justified in esteeming them 
the representatives of their respective countries, as undoubtedly they fulfil the same offices and functions 
in both. In several cases we meet with identity of species in Asia and Africa; and there is an obser- 
vation I have made, worthy of ‘still further investigation, that most of the Insects which, are identical 
in both countries, are either coprophagous or phytyphagous ; in short, vegetable feeders, which circum- 
stance would Jead one to suppose a similarity of vegetation in the different regions. 
It may here be expected, perhaps, that I should state the relative proportions of the carnivorous and 
phytyvorous Insects; and I cannot but regret that I have not as yet followed up my investigations 
sufficiently to enable me to draw a satisfactory conclusion. Messrs, Kirby and Spence, in their interest- 
ing work, speaking of our British Fauna, esteem these groups as nearly equal in number. I must 
confess my own observation induces me to believe, that the latter greatly exceed the former in our 
_own country. With respect to the phytyvorous group in tropical climates, they certainly greatly out- 
number the carnivorous; and were it not so, the air in those regions would scarcely be habitable, consi- 
dering the nauseating effluvia arising from excrementous matter, which the Copride in particular tend 
to neutralise, by consuming, decomposing, and burying in the earth, all that is obnoxious and liable to 
putrify. In proof of this assertion, I will only here add, that five of the greatest groups with which 
we are acquainted, namely, the Lamellicornes, the Sternoxes, and the Longicornes, the Curculionide, 
and Chrysomelide, are almost entirely phytyvorous or xylobious ; and it may also be naturally inferred 
from the superabundance of animal life of all classes within the tropics, particularly the Ruminantia, 
that there also vegetation will be found most luxuriant ; yet, looking to Insects only, we find they are 
scarcely sufficient to keep in check its excessive exuberance. In addition to multiplied forms of genera, 
we have an extraordinary increase of species and of individuals. It is in these same prolific regions 
also, that the mighty Goliathi and gigantic Prionide abound, where they perforate the trunks of the 
proudest monarchs of the forest, and hasten them onward to decay ; and, by means apparently inefficienty 
check vegetation. It ig time, however, to add a remark on the carnivorous Insects, which, although 
inferior in numbers to the phytyvorous, are still an important group; and in northern regions, by 
removing the decomposing matter from the decaying and putrifying carcass, fulfil the functions 
assigned to them by Providence. In tropical regions they are certainly not always so abundant, as a 
dead body, from the natural dryness of the air, and intense heat of the sun, is frequently dried up before 
putridity has made much progress; at least, such is the case in the Pampas. I cannot help thinking, 
however, although our cabinets contain but few species from equinoctial and tropical latitudes, that 
eventually they will be found more numerous, and that in these regions we shall still find them more 
proportioned to the excess of animal life than appears to be the case at present. Religious prejudice, 
and the filthy and disgusting habits of these Insects, may be the causes why they have been neglected. 
In India, if the Necrophaga are not so numerous as elsewhere, yet the numbers of some particular 
species being excessive beyond measure, are sufficient, perhaps, to compensate for want of variety. 
oper ers: = RANGE. 
_ * Vide p. 159 of this work, where,the similarity of vegetation in parts of India and in Western Africa is referred to, as originally 
remarked by Mr. Brown, and which has been confirmed by subsequent discoveries.—J. F. R. 
