105 



dimensions, during a long series of ages, of any par- 

 ticular creature, will for the most part be found to have 

 also impaired the brilliancy of its tints. Luxuriance of 

 vegetation and sheltered districts are alike conducive, 

 in the Annulosa, to the development both of the body 

 and its adornment ; or, in other words, where the vege- 

 table creation attains its maximum (which it certainly 

 does not do in situations which are exposed to the irri- 

 tating consequences of a perpetually stormy atmosphere), 

 there the animal world will be usually observed to 

 thrive. 



There are many insects which appear to have two 

 distinct states, both in magnitude and hue, which we are 

 seldom (in some instances, I believe, never) able to unite 

 by intermediate links, or grades ; and yet which are 

 universally admitted, although found in actually the 

 self-same spots (a fact which prevents their being looked 

 upon as separate, local modifications of a common type), 

 to be mere varieties of each other. They are, however, 

 exceptions to the general rule ; and, although infringing 

 on the strict definition of a " variety," as given at a pre- 

 ceding page*", we nevertheless feel an a priori conviction 

 that they are by no means specifically dissimilar inter se. 

 Such phases, as regards stature, are presented by the 

 Brachinus crepitans and Lamprias chlorocephalus of our 

 own country ; whilst, as regards colour, the Philhydrus 

 melanocephalus, Aphodius plagiatus, and the Psylliodes 

 erythrocephala (constituting in its paler garb the P. ni- 

 * Vide supra, p. 5. 



F5 



