li ON THE ENTOMOLOGY OF THE 
duties peculiar to both regions ; both may live and thrive together, and abound in the same countries, 
and will eventually be found to do so. When the genera of temperate climes appear within the ‘Tropics, 
I see no reason why they may not have the same functions assigned them there, as in colder latitudes ; 
but when we find new types of form, and a more powerful organization, with the size of the Insects 
greatly increased (as is the case in tropical regions), does it not almost naturally follow that they are 
intended solely for those regions, and for the increase of work they are there destined to perform? To 
return, however, to the subject of uniformity of entomological character throughout the Peninsula and 
the East, I think it probable that it is in a great measure to be accounted for by the general uniformity 
of its temperature, vegetation, and soil ; there may, indeed, be other causes, which particularly influence 
it, but these may be esteemed the most essential. When we look to the range which genera here enjoy, 
it is very considerable: in part of the Himalayas, at the extreme southern points of India, in the West, 
and even in its Eastern Isles, there is one pervading character, evincing every where the prevalence of 
tropical genera. To speak more specifically, in Nepal and the southernmost extremity of the Mysore, and 
in Ceylon, at Bombay, and at Madras, at Calcutta and Singapore, in Japan and Java, with the rest of 
the Polynesian Isles, the majority of the same types abound ; and what is of more consequence, a great 
majority of the same species also occur in most of the above-mentioned regions, Having noticed the in- 
termingling of genera belonging to Europe and Asia, we may probably find a slight accordance elsewhere, 
Now, if we turn our eyes to Africa, we shall there find a considerable similarity in the entomology of this 
quarter of the globe with that of Asia; and this resemblance between the two countries will be readily 
seen by the short annexed list of some of the more particular genera, which are common to both of them, 
Among the Carabidz occur Anthia, Orthogonius, Trigonodactyla, and Siagona. Among the Lamelli- 
cornes, Epirinus and Popillia, the conical Buprestidee and the extraordinary Pausside, which last are 
chiefly found only in these regions ; and to these may be added, as well as many more, the genera Melyris, 
Megalopus, Sagra, and Adorium; Dorylus, among the Hymenoptera, and Diopsis among the Diptera. 
Passing from genera to species, we shall find that precisely the same occur in both continents; among 
the most conspicuous, I shall mention but a few, namely, Copris Midas, Sabeeus, and Pithecizs, Cetonia 
cornuta, and Lytta gigas. Even supposing that no identical species occurred, which were common to 
Asia and Africa, yet we could not help observing the very remarkable similarity in the representatives of 
each ; one example of which is, Ateuchus sanctus, which very closely resembles the celebrated Sacred 
Beetle of the Egyptians, the object of their worship, by some regarded as an emblem of fertility, but I 
think more probably that of eternity. Before concluding my remarks on the similarity of Insects found 
in Asia and Africa, I cannot help expressing a wish that some individual may be induced to develope 
the character of the entomology of these gigantic regions more thoroughly than has yet been attempted ; 
or there is an ample field for research and speculation. We shall feel much indebted to him, if he will 
explain how the Copride: were transported from one country to another, and how they reached the island 
of Ceylon ; how also Cetonia cornuta, which is taken on the banks of the Gambia, became an inhabitant 
of India. Lytta gigas may have travelled by land, and perhaps the Copride following the track and 
droppings of the camel, may have pursued the same route. Let him describe the sands of the desert 
and those in the vicinity of the Indus, give us a comparative Fauna of the Ganges and the Nile, record 
the varieties of temperature, the character of vegetation, and the genera peculiar to the different soils. 
«Let him do this, following the steps of the celebrated Forskal, and he indeed will advance the objects of 
science, deserve the thanks of the present generation, and command the respect of posterity.* 
oe: By pursuing the course recommended by Mr. Hope, a naturalist would be enabled, not only to display the connection between 
soil, temperature, and vegetation, as well as the animal forms which the latter supports, but also prove the advantages of studying 
the natural sciences in connection with each other, and be enabled to explain something of the laws which influence the geographical 
distribution of plants and animals.—J. F. R. 
