372 ISLAND LIFK part ii 



as these present favourable climatic conditions such as do 

 not, exist elsewhere. 



There is therefore a considerable amount of harmony 

 in the various facts adduced in this chapter, as well as a 

 complete accordance with what the laws of distribution 

 in islands would lead us to expect. In proportion to the 

 species of birds and fresh-water fishes, the number of 

 insect-forms is enormously great, so that the numerous 

 species or varieties here recorded as not yet known on the 

 continent are not to be wondered at; while it would, 

 I think, be almost an anomaly if, with peculiar birds and 

 fishes there were not a fair proportion of peculiar insects. 

 Our entomologists should, therefore, give up the assump- 

 tion, that all our insects do exist on the continent, and 

 will some time or other be found there, as not in accordance 

 either with the evidence or the probabilities of the case ; 

 and when this is done, and the interesting peculiarities of 

 some of our smaller islands are remembered, the study of 

 our native animals and plants, in relation to those of other 

 countries, will acquire a new interest. The British Isles 

 are said to consist of more than a thousand islands and 

 islets. How many of these have ever been searched for 

 insects ? With the case of Lundy Island before us, who 

 shall say that there is not yet scope for extensive and 

 interestinof investia'ations into the British fauna and flora ? 



