Mountains are found some of the plants of Lapland, 

 and there also a species of butterfly* occurs, which 

 appears to be identical with one in Lapland. The 

 rice-weevil f is the constant concomitant of its favorite 

 grain ; and, though often found alive in imported rice, 

 does not seem to have established itself beyond the 

 natural regions of its appropriate food. In all parts of 

 America where the sugar-cane flourishes, the cucuij, 

 or luminous beetle, | which hves upon it, may be found. 



The presence or absence of humidity, in a country 

 or district, gives predominance to certain insect and 

 vegetable races. Thus predatory and stercoraceous 

 insects are more common and abundant in dry, sandy, 

 and hot regions, than in more moist and temperate 

 ones. The prevailing insects of Africa, of the south of 

 Europe, of the steppes of Asia, of the pampas and 

 prairies of America, are of this description ; and such 

 also are those which frequent dry pathways and the 

 arid sands of the sea-shore every where. Other tribes, 

 destined to subsist upon vegetable juices, and those 

 that imbibe their food by suction, are more prevalent 

 in regions of perpetual moisture, as well as in the bogs 

 and fens, and on the marshy margins of rivers, lakes, 

 and seas, in all countries. 



Pecuhar kinds of insects and plants appear to be 

 appropriated to particular continents and countries. 

 The laws, governing the geographical limits of indi- 

 genous insects, are more absolute than those already 

 specified. It is true that countries, possessing a simi- 



* The Hipparchia semidea of Say, appears to be identical with the 

 Papilio fortunafus of Fabricius. 



f Calandra Oryzw. L. | Elater nodilucus. L. 



