500 GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF INSECTS. 



far more interesting than that of individual species : for 

 in considering this we see more evidently how certain 

 functions are devolved upon certain forms, and can scan 

 the great plan of PROVIDENCE, in the creation of insects, 

 more satisfactorily than by confining our attention to 

 the latter. Groups, according to their range, may be 

 denominated either predominant, dominant, sub-dominant, 

 or quiescent. 



1. M. Latreille has observed, that where the empire 

 of Flora ceases, there also terminates that of Zoology 3 . 

 Phytiphagous animals can only exist where there are 

 plants; and those that are carnivorous and feed upon the 

 former, must of necessity stop where they stop. Even 

 the gnat, which extends its northern reign so high b , 

 must cease at this limit ; while, where vegetation is the 

 richest and most abundant, there the animal productions, 

 especially the insect, must be equally abundant. I call 

 that, therefore, a predominant group, members of which 

 are found in all the countries between these points, or 

 from the limits of animal-depasturing vegetation in the 

 polar regions to the line. 



Generally speaking, the carnivorous insects, whether 

 thalerophagous or saprophagous, are of this description. 

 Calosoma, which devours Lepidopterous larvae, though 

 poor in species and individuals, is widely scattered. Cap- 

 tain Frankland found C. calidum in his Arctic journey ; 

 C. laterale and curvipes inhabit tropical America : C. 

 Chinense, as its name indicates, is Chinese d ; Mr. Mac- 



a Geogr. Gener. des Ins. 2. b When I described the 



Melville Island insects for Captain Sabine, I received from him no 

 Cidice$ ; but I afterwards saw in his possession a genuine one from 

 thence. -K. c Linn. Trans, xii. 380, n. 6, 7. (1 Ibid. n. 5. 



