S22 OBSERVATIONS ON THE 



Africa and Asia : I have received it from the banks of the 

 Gambia, from Arabia, from Bombay, and the Island of Ceylon. 

 Is it in our power to explain the wide range which some insects 

 enjoy? In hazarding an opinion respecting this interesting 

 subject, I am inclined to think that the Copridcc may have 

 followed the route which the caravans take, in the passage 

 from Egypt to India, attracted no doubt by the droppings of 

 animals. Several insects of both Continents will be found to 

 be the same ; and where this is not the case, the representatives 

 of each will frequently correspond in size and colour. It may 

 be possible that Pitliecius was originally a species from Ceylon, 

 •and was transported with elephants to the Indian continent, 

 and so made its way to the Arabian deserts ; as to Copropha- 

 gous insects being carried by driftwood, I own I am sceptical. 

 Xylobious species may be imported into various countries by 

 the above means, borne along in the direction the currents 

 take. It is singular that the insects said to be thrown on the 

 coast of Ireland are not specified by name ; and I know of none 

 of the Coleoptera which can be considered of real migratory 

 habits, compared with the Orthoptera and Lepidoptera ; for the 

 present, therefore, I consider such exotics to belong to the 

 latter Orders. 



Sp. 137. Sahtsus. This species, like the former, is com- 

 mon to the two continents above mentioned. 



Sp. 139. Pactolus. This rich golden insect is mentioned 

 by Fabricius, as well as Olivier, as inhabiting the Brazils ; 

 both writers are in error, as it is undoubtedly an East Indian 

 species, and abundant at Bombay and Bengal. 



Sp. 145. Ammon. This insect was rightly sfeted by Fa- 

 bricius to inhabit North America. Olivier, without adding his 

 reasons, gives the East Indies as its locality ; apparently, he 

 must have mistaken the species, as the former writer is correct. 



Sp. 148. Sagittarim. Fabricius is right in regarding this 

 as an East Indian species, and Olivier wrong, in making it an 

 inhabitant of the Cape of Good Hope. 



Sp. 149. Vitulus. This insect is the same as that described 

 by Fabricius, under the name of Camelus. 



Sp. 150. Amyntas. This species is undoubtedly the same 

 as_ Copris Aids, Fab., and is abundant in southern Europe. 



Sp. J54. Bidens. It seems probable that this insect may 

 be the female of Copris thoraciciis, Fab. 



