348 On the Geographical Distribution of Insects. 



The lowest in this comparative scale, must necessarily be 

 the Polar Regions of the two Continents, to which New Hol- 

 land does not seem much superior, notwithstanding its par- 

 tially intertropical position. 



The proportion in which the species, genera, and families, 

 are found in different countries is susceptible of being esta- 

 blished in a more satisfactory manner. It may even be shewn 

 in a given country from a collection moderately ample, provi- 

 ded the entomologist who formed it has not collected certain 

 families with greater care than others. This is unfortunately 

 not the case, particularly with exotic species, for every collec- 

 tor almost always has an involuntary preference for certain 

 groups. Yet we now possess sufficient materials for the cole- 

 optera to enable us to attempt the task in question with regard 

 to them. 



The following table presents the number of species of this 

 order as known at present in the eight following regions, not 

 differing much from each other in extent, viz.. North America, 

 excluding Mexico, which, by its partially tropical position, be- 

 longs to the following region ; South America and Mexico ; 

 Africa ; Europe, along with Southern Russia ; Lapland and 

 Siberia ; Asia ; Indian Archipelago ; finally New Holland. 

 These regions appear sufficient for the purpose now in view. 

 The species are grouped in twenty-two families, as in De 

 .lean's Catalogue ; but instead of disposing of them in syste- 

 matic order, they are placed, for each region, according to the 

 decreasing number of the species, an arrangement which ena- 

 bles us to see at one glance which of them predominate in 

 such region. The table is principally designed to shew this 

 predominance ; and a few subsequent remarks will point out 

 the other inferences, not unimportant, which may be deduced 

 from it."' 



The proportion between the families in each region is ren- 

 dered manifest by this table, but that is not sufficient ; it is 



* The basis of this table, which must have cost its author a great degi-ee 

 of labour, is the 3d edition of De Jean's catalogue ; but all other accessible 

 works descriptive of new species have been consulted. On combining liis 

 materials, he found that he had obtained cognizance of 24,650 species of 

 Coleoptera, that is 2251 more than the catalogue contains. 



