80 SUBANTARCTIC ISLANDS OF NEW ZEALAND. [Cokopicrfi. 



In the first place, it may be taken as granted that the presence of no less than 

 seven genera of almost universal geographical distribution shows that these oceanic 

 islets, ages long past, must have had some sort of connection with the Northern 

 Hemisphere. No doubt exists in my own mind that the species representing these 

 genera were derived originally, and during a very limited period, from New Zealand, 

 which, therefore, may be considered to have been the connecting-link between the 

 two areas, 



The bulk, ornamentation, and structure of a large proportion of the species 

 should lead us to believe that their progenitors originated and flourished in some 

 larger, if not continental, area then enjoying a climate very different from the in- 

 clement one that now prevails. 



If we regard my twelve new genera and the older Loxomerus — exactly half of the 

 total number — as genuine exponents of a special fauna, it seems ck^ar that the isohi- 

 tion of these islands must have continued during a vast period. 



The genus Loxomerus, made up of wingless species, being related to Migndops. 

 should lead us to infer that some approximation had formerly existed between the 

 Auckland and Falkland Islands and Tierra del Fuego. This, however, is the only 

 genus that points directly to such an induction. 



The subject now awaiting elucidation is the affinity existing between the cole- 

 opterous faunae of New Zealand and the Auckland Islands. That such relationship 

 is real can be amply demonstrated by the following statements. 



Five genera — Mecodema, Diglymma, Oopterus, Liochoria, and Odontria — are, 

 with but one exception, confined exclusively to these two groups of islands. The 

 exception has been already alluded to — viz., the presence of three species of Meco- 

 dema in the Australian region. These form one-fifth almost of the total number 

 of genera found in the Auckland Islands. All but one are apterous, 



Namostygnus, Thomosis, Hycanus, Stilhodiscus, and Pactolotypus, as previously 

 mentioned, are so nearly congeneric with an equal number of New Zealand insects 

 that their metamorphoses might be easily accomplished : whilst Synteratus, Keno- 

 dactylus, and the large weevils Inocatopfes and Cdtodryohius are all more or less 

 intimately allied to New Zealand genera. Pseudhelops is also related, the home 

 of Adelium being as much in New Zealand as Australia. If these be united to the 

 five enumerated in the preceding paragraph the two series will amount to more 

 than half of the southern fauna. 



The conclusion arrived at — inevitably, I think — after a rather exhaustive study 

 of the Coleoptera may be expressed in very few words. Assuming that a considerable 

 area of land formerly extended from the Auckland Islands towards Patagonia, the 

 New Zealand Islands must have formed a portion of it. 



As I have had no communication whatever with other naturalists on this sub- 

 ject, or with those who may be engaged with separate contributions to this volume, 

 it is probable that my views may not coincide with theirs. 



