GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF INSECTS. 505 



very unequally distributed. Of registered species Britain 

 possesses the largest proportion; but Mr. W. S. MacLeay 

 is of opinion that Spain is its true metropolis a . I have 

 a species of this genus, taken in North America by Pro- 

 fessor Peck. The splendid genus Carabus ranges still 

 further north than Meloe b . A very fine species (C. cri- 

 lellatus) inhabits the polar regions of Siberia c ; but 

 the metropolis of the group appears to be the tempe- 

 rate zone : some, however, have been found in northern 

 Africa ; and Sir Joseph Banks captured one in Terra del 

 Fuego. Of those whose range is between the tropics 

 and 50 N. L. we may begin with Cicada. One species, 

 indeed, has been found by Mr. Bydder and others, a 

 little higher, near the New Forest, Hampshire. We 

 may take Scolia for an example of a subdominant group 

 beginning more southward. Its species first appear 

 about 43 N. L., and abound in warm climates. In 

 general most of those insects which M. Latreille deno- 

 minates meridional, such as Scarabceus, Onitis, Brentus, 

 Scar ties, Mantis, Fulgora, Termes, Scorpio, &c. come 

 under the present head, and in fact all tropical forms 

 that wander to any distance within the above limits from 

 their metropolis. 



4. By quiescent groups I mean those that have none, 

 or no high range as to latitude, from their centre or metro- 



a Dr. Leach has described 8 British species (Linn. Trans, xi. 37.) ; 

 Dejean has 7 Spanish ones. 



b I have a very splendid species of this genus taken by C. C. Ehves 

 Esq. on the Pyrenees, which is undescribed, and falls under none 

 of the count Dejean 's Families, having its elytra perfectly smooth, 

 without stria?, punctures, &c. It is of a brilliant golden green. It 

 stands in my cabinet under the name of C. l&vigatus. K. 



c Fischer Entomogr. Runs. 90 . t. viii./. 13. 



