SCOTT— COLEOPTERA. LAMELLICORNIA AND ADEPHAGA 219 



their range not only to the Seychelles but also to some of the other archipelagoes such as 

 the Chagos and the Amirantes, were not found at all in the endemic forests of the 

 Seychelles, but only in the cultivated lower country. This is very marked in such 

 a case as that of the Cetoniine Protcetia aurichalcea, an Indo-Cingalese species, found 

 also in the Mascarene Islands ; it is found in low cultivated plantations in the 

 Seychelles, and on the low coral-islands of the Amirantes. Such a species in no way 

 belongs to the true endemic fauna of the Seychelles. The same statements apply to the 

 very widely-spread species of class (vii). This division of the Seychelles Laraellicorn- 

 fauna into an endemic portion confined to the endemic forests in the mountains, and a 

 non-endemic portion found in the lower lands, is only in accordance with the condition 

 of things (so far as at present known) throughout the whole of the Coleopterous fauna — 

 and indeed throughout many, if not all, other parts of the Insect-fauna — of the Seychelles. 

 Professor Kolbe has remarked on it in the introduction to his paper on " die Coleopteren- 

 fauna der Seychellen " in the following words: "Gerade in den abseits gelegenen waldigen 

 Teilen dieser Inseln wurden von Brauer die meisten neuen Gattungen und Arten gefunden. 

 Im Gegensatze hierzu fanden sich die kosmopolitischen, indischen, und madagassischen 

 Elemente in dem kultivierten Telle der Insel Mahe*." There are of course exceptions, 

 even among the Lamellicoruia, to this sharp division of the faunas of the forests and 

 of the cultivated country. For instance the two species of Saprosites, neither of which 

 is endemic, occur both in the cultivated country and in the endemic forests : and the 

 same may be said of Figidus striatus. But on the whole the rule holds good. 



It is seen then that the Lamellicorn-fauna of the Seychelles has an endemic element 

 consisting of species almost confined to the forests : that it has received an element from 

 each of the nearest large land-areas, i.e. Africa, Madagascar, and Southern Asia : and 

 that it also contains a portion consisting of very widely-distributed species. 



By whatever method the non-endemic forms reached the Seychelles, whether by way 

 of ancient land-connections or by some form of transport across the sea, at any rate 

 certain of them appear to have been isolated in these islands long enough to develop into 

 forms which are distinct, though closely related to some of their congeners. In this 

 connection Parastasia coquereli is particularly interesting ; it has been discussed by 

 Professor Kolbe on p. 5 of his pajjer referred to above. 



The genus Parastasia is represented by a number of species in the Indian region, 

 and extends over the East Indian Archipelago, reaching to New Caledonia and New 

 Zealand. P. co(juereli in the Seychelles appears to be tlie Westernmost outpost of the 

 genus : it is closely-related to, l)ut yet distinct from, P. basalis Cand., a species found in 

 Ceylon and India. Kolbe (l-f.) enters briefly into the question whether Parnsfa.tia 

 originally reached the Seychelles by immigration across the sea, or by an old land- 

 connection. The Madagascar-Mascarene species Figidus striatus also is represented in the 

 Seychelles by a distinct form, though in this case the difference appears insufficient to 

 justify its being designated as more than a variety. 



* Mitt. Zool. Mus. Berlin, v. 1910, p. 4. The portion cited above is followed by the statement tliat the 

 non-endemic elements form tiio greater part of tlie Se3'chelles fauna. Whetlier this hitter stateuicnt will liold 

 true when tlie collections formed by the Percy Sladen Trust E.\pedition are fully worked out, is doubtful. 



