170 [November 



extent of these Faunae, limited by physical conditions, exhibits the 

 distribution of the most extensive types, within which, lesser areas are 

 defined, by the range of more limited and characteristic forms. Were 

 our knowledge sufficiently ample and methodized, it is evident that we 

 should discard political designations in giving the habitat of species, 

 and, in contributing to the knowledge of any one Zoological Order or 

 Family, we should seek to fix its specific distribution with a reference 

 to these different areas, aided by the delineation of Faunal Maps. 



In an admirable contribution to Entomological knowledge, " The 

 Coleoptera of Kanzas and Eastern New Mexico," by Dr. John L. Le- 

 Conte, published by the Smithsonian Institution in 1859, such a Fau- 

 nal Map is prepared, illustrating the Entomological Provinces of North 

 America. Dr. LeConte divides the whole region of the United States 

 into three or four " great Zoological districts, distinguished each by 

 numerous peculiar genera and species" of Coleopterous Insects. We 

 refer to this work for the elucidation of this division, and content our- 

 selves here with merely enumerating the different districts, adopting 

 the designations which Dr. LeConte has proposed, and remarking, that, 

 so far as we are aware, the species of Lepidopterous Insects are distri- 

 buted, generally speaking, over wider geographical areas than Coleop- 

 terous Insects, perhaps owing to the greater development of the organs 

 of flight, at the expense, somewhat, of those of terrestrial progression. 



The Atlantic District extends " from the Atlantic Ocean to the arid 

 prairies on the west of Iowa, 31issouri and Arkansas." 



The Central District extends '-from the western limit of the eastern 

 (atlantic) district, perhaps to the mass of the Sierra Nevada of Califor- 

 nia, including Kansas, Nebraska, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona and 

 Texas. Except Arizona, the Entomological fauna of the portion of 

 this district west of the Rocky Mountains, and, in fact, that of the 

 mountain region proper, is entirely unknown ; and it is very probable 

 that the region does, in reality, constitute two districts bounded by the 

 Rocky Mountains and southern continuation thereof." 



The Western District "is the maritime slope of the Continent to the 

 Pacific, and thus includes California, Oregon and Washington Territo- 

 ries." 



We indicate in addition a Tropical Insular District, embracing the 

 West India Islands, and which comprehends, in all probability, the 

 southern extremity of the Floridian Peninsula nd the Florida Keys. 

 Also a second district, comprehending Mexico, Honduras, Belize and 

 Yucatan, including, as indicated by Dr. LeConte, a narrow strip near 



