170 On the Geographical Distribution of Insects. 



merous tribes of their own species from utter extermination, 

 it is of the greatest importance, in a philosophical point of 

 view, to obtain much more extensive information than we 

 now possess of their physical and moral characters. A great 

 number of curious problems in physiology, illustrative of the 

 history of the species, and the laws of their propagation, re- 

 main as yet imperfectly solved. The psychology of these 

 races has been but little studied in an enlightened manner ; 

 and yet this is wanting, in order to complete the history of 

 human nature, and the philosophy of the human mind. How 

 can this be obtained, when so many tribes shall have become 

 extinct, and their thoughts shall have perished with them ? I 

 cannot conclude this paper without making an appeal to the 

 members of the British Association in behalf of an attempt, 

 which has been lately set on foot by individuals, prompted by 

 the most noble and generous sentiments, to do something 

 more than merely to record the history of the perishing tribes 

 of the human family, and to take up seriously the considera- 

 tion, whether any thing can be done effectually to prevent the 

 extermination of the aboriginal tribes.* 



On the Geographical Distribution of Insects. (Continued from 

 vol. xxvii. page 351.) 



It is known that insects both of a creophagous and sapro- 

 phagous nature, gradually diminish in relative numbers from 

 the poles to the equator ; but it remains to be seen whether 

 they increase in the same ratio when viewed separately. Tliis 

 Avill appear from the following table : — 



Crco-thalcrophagous Species | C'reo-sapropliagous Speeiis 



* From LonQuuui's Chronicle for December 1830, 



