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, X. On the Geodephagous Colcoptera of Japan. 
By H. AY. Bates, F.L.S. 
[Read 17tb February, 1873.] 
The following enumeration and description of the Clcin- 
delidcB and Carabida of Japan are founded chiefly on the 
magnificent collection made by Mr. George Lewis during 
a five years' residence in that country, chiefly at Nagasaki, 
in the island of Kushiu, and at Hiogo and Osaka in the 
main island of Nipon. Although these two families had 
already received much attention, chiefly from Russian 
travellers and residents, and a large number had b(3en 
described by Morawitz, Motschulsky, and others; ISIr. 
Lewis has more than trebled the number of known species 
from this country, and added 120 new species to science. 
The total number now known is 244 species, comprised 
in 84 genera, a number that wiJl no doubt be yet con- 
siderably increased, as the British Islands, lying in a much 
more northerly latitude, contain many more, viz., 311 
species. It is not very probable, however, that future 
discoveries will alter materially the general character of 
the Fauna of Japan in this department ; for, although the 
larger portion of the island of Nipon to the north and 
east is as yet unworked ; collections have been received 
from many distant points on all the islands, and they show 
a tolerable uniformity in their productions. We may con- 
sider, therefore, that we have now material sufhcieut to 
afford a fair idea of the relations of the Coleopterous 
Fauna of Japan with that of other countries whose pro- 
ductions are equally well known ; and the Geodepharja 
may be taken as very good representatives of all the 
Coleoptera for this purpose. 
The first stage in the inquiry is the most difficult, viz., 
how far is the Fauna of Japan endemic or peculiar ? the 
difficulty arising fi^-om our ignorance of the productions of 
that part of the Asiatic continent wliich lies nearest to 
the islands, viz., Korea. The straits between the larger 
islands of Japan and Korea are partly bridged over by 
smaller islands, so that the widest space of sea to be 
TRANS. ENT. SOC. 1873. — PART II. (mAY.) 
