GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF INSECTS. 507 
almost as wide as it is long, and situated in or near the 
tropics, instead of inland seas or sea-like rivers, is inter- 
sected by parched sandy deserts, extending far and wide; 
circumstances which, though in the vicinity of its streams 
it is humid, impart an unusual degree of aridity as well 
as heat to its general atmosphere ; so that it well merits 
the poet's epithet, Leonum arida nutrix ; and is also pe- 
culiarly fitted for all such animals, especially insects, as 
delight in a dry, sandy, hot country, particularly such as 
are predaceous in their habits. America^ on the other 
hand, exhibits quite an opposite character. It is long, 
and comparatively narrow ; surrounded, and almost di- 
vided into two continents, by immense circumfluent 
oceans ; watered every where by rivers and lakes that 
emulate seas : in some parts covered by interminable 
forests ; in others, intersected by ridges of the loftiest 
mountains. These circumstances, except in its Llanos, 
Pampas, or table-land, give a general character of hu- 
midity to its atmosphere, and fit it particularly for the 
production of a vast variety of peculiar plants, and for 
the residence of numerous and peculiar phytiphagous 
insects and other animals a . Midway between these two 
continents lies a third (for so the vast island of New 
Holland may be denominated), which presents new fea- 
tures in its general aspect, and consequently new forms 
both in its Flora and Faima, mixed with many old ones 
parallel to those both of the new world and the old. 
Perhaps Europe and Asia, with several that are peculiar, 
agree more in their animal productions than the con- 
tinents just described. 
a Latr. Geograph. &c 18—. 
