CHAP. XTi THE BRITISH ISLES 351 



equally rare and not yet found on the continent. But 

 this is hardly in accordance with the laws of distribution. 

 Widely scattered species are generally abundant in some 

 localities ; while, when a species is on the point of 

 extinction, it must for a time be very rare in the single 

 locality where it last maintains itself. It is then more 

 probable that some of these unique species represent such 

 as are almost extinct, than that they have a wide range 

 and are equally rare everywhere ; and the j^eculiarity of 

 our insular climate, combined with our varied soil and 

 vegetation, offer conditions which may favour the survival 

 of some species with us after they have become extinct on 

 the continent. 



Of the sixty-nine species recorded in my first edition 

 fourteen have been since discovered on the continent, while 

 no less than twenty-two species and eleven varieties have 

 been added to the list. As we can hardly suppose con- 

 tinental entomologists to be less thorough collectors than 

 ourselves, it ought to be more and more difficult to find 

 any insects which are unknown on the continent if all ours 

 really exist there ; and the fact that the list of apparently 

 peculiar British species is an increasing one renders it 

 probable that many of them are not only apparently but 

 really so. Both general considerations dependent on the 

 known laws of distribution, and the peculiar habits, con- 

 spicuous appearance, and restricted range, of many of our 

 species, alike indicate that some considerable proportion of 

 them will remain permanently as peculiar British species. 



We will now pass on to the Coleoptera, or beetles, an 

 order which has been of late years energetically collected 

 and carefully studied by British entomologists. 



List of the Species and Varieties of Beetles which, so far as at present knoicn, 

 are confined to the British Islands. Those added since the first edition 

 are marked tcith an asterisk. 



CARABIDiE. 



1. *BembidmTn saxatile, rar. vectensis (Fowler), Isle of Wight. 



2. Dromius yectexsis (Rye). Common in the Isle of Wight, also in 



Kent, and at Weymouth and Seaton. Closely allied to D. sicjma. 



3. Harpahis latus, var. metallescexs (Rye). Unique, but very 



marked ! South coast. " Perhaps a sport or a hybrid " (Fowler). 



4. AcuPALPUS DEUELiCTUS (Dawson). Unique ! North Kent. Canon 



Fowler thinks it may be a variety of A. dorscdis. 



