58 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



Erodius europceus. — "I feel far from satisfied that the 

 examples of MM. Webb and Berthelot may not have been 

 accidentally imported into the islands (a possibility which is 

 not diminished by the consideration that a true Erodius is 

 now before me which was taken by Dr. Crotch on the Mole 

 at Sta Cruz in Teneriffe — escaped from the actual vessel in 

 which he had himself arrived from Mogadore !). I cannot 

 admit the genus Erodius into this Catalogue without at all 

 events further evidence. Indeed, Arthrodes being so essen- 

 tially the representative of Erodius at the Canaries, where 

 moreover it is so universal, it might involve a serious geo- 

 graphical blunder to include the latter (which may perhaps 

 have been a mere chance-introduction from the African 

 coast)."— P. 437. 



Akis acuminata. — " The present position being the pro- 

 per one for the Akisidae, I should mention that the Akis acu- 

 minata of Fabricius is recorded by M. Brulle as Canarian, on 

 the evidence of specimens supposed to have been captured 

 by Messrs. Webb and Berthelot. I examined them, when 

 in Paris ; but as I feel considerable doubt whether they are 

 truly Canarian, I cannot admit the species into this Cata- 

 logue. It is far from impossible that it may occur in these 

 islands ; but, at the same time, I think it is much more 

 likely that the examples were obtained (perhaps alive) at 

 Sta Cruz, having been brought over accidentally in some of 

 the trading vessels from the coast of Africa. Such importa- 

 tions are both natural and by no means unfrequent ; and, 

 indeed, I have now before me specimens of a large Scaurus, 

 a Pimelia, an Erodius, and of the Scarites gigas, which were 

 picked up by Dr. Crotch on the Mole at Sta Cruz, escaped 

 from the actual steamer in which he had himself arrived 

 from Mogadore (the insects having been captured by himself 

 and the sailors on the little island off that port, and after- 

 wards allowed to run loose on board the vessel) ! I conceive 

 it very probable therefore that the Akis may have made its 

 appearance in much the same way ; or that, at all events, 

 further evidence is necessary before it can be conscientiously 

 cited as a Canarian." — P. 468. 



These extracts will certainly establish Mr. Wollaston's 

 character for extreme caution. 



The relative numerical proportion of the different tribes to 



