COLEOPTERA. 



205 



the Museum of the University of Berlin, the richest 

 that exists, consists of no fewer than 28,000 species ; 

 and when we consider how many others must be con- 

 tained in the cabinets of England, Holland, Germany, 

 and other places, not to be found in these, we are 

 justified in affirming that upwards of 40,000 distinct 

 species of Coleoptera actually exist in collections. 

 It is more difficult to form a satisfactory estimate of 

 their total amount in nature. The following is the 

 most recent attempt of this kind we have seen ; and, 

 in connection with the adjoining table, will shew, at 

 one view, the supposed relative extent of the differ- 

 ent orders, both as actually known, and as they exist 

 in all the countries of the globe : 



Supposed to exist in 

 Collections. 



80,000 



Supposed to exist 

 in Nature 



120,000 



100,000 



72,000 



25,000 



20,000 



10,000 



9000 



6000 



362,000 



The following table indicates, but in a manner 

 which can only be regarded as an approximation to 

 the reality, the ratio in which the Coleoptera increase 

 in receding from the poles and approaching the equa- 

 tor, in obedience to that most general of all laws 

 regulating the distribution of animals on the earth's 



