162 ON THE COLEOPTEROUS GENUS CEEOGLOSSUS. 



ber of known species to fourteen. In this list I was assisted 

 by my lamented friend the late H. W. Bates, who was con- 

 sidered as an authority on the Carabidce, and Baron Chaudoir, 

 the highest Continental authority on the family, looked over 

 my Ceroglossus and did not differ from my views. 



Since that period a large number of species have reached 

 Europe, and there are now at least fifty described species or 

 varieties in collections. 



The geographical centre of the genus may be taken as 

 the western slope of the Andes, about latitude 40° S. ; to 

 the north of 35° S. specimens rarely occur, though I described 

 C. colchaguensis from a single specimen found in latitude 

 34° S. The southern limit of the genus is Tierra del Fuego, 

 two or three species reaching the Straits of Magellan 

 (lat. 54° S.). 



Though some few species occur near the coast, the greater 

 number are found in the central plains and on the skirts of 

 the Andes, in woods, under decayed logs and stones. There 

 is no evidence to show if species exist on the eastern slopes 

 of the Andes, as those regions are scantily inhabited, and, as 

 far as I know, have never been visited by entomologists. 



The reason of our sudden increase of species of late years 

 is easily explained. In 1873 I vainly attempted to induce a 

 guide to accompany me to the foot of the Andes, in the pro- 

 vince of Valdivia, because that part of the country was then 

 in the hands of the Araucanians, who objected to visitors, or, 

 as the man whom I tried to persuade to accompany me put 

 it, the Indians objected to let visitors leave them — alive. But 

 last year I visited the whole of that part of the country in 

 perfect safety, only accompanied by a couple of cavalry 

 soldiers, for form's sake, while inspecting the invasion of 

 Argentine locusts. 



The mar(3h of civilization and the extension of railways 



