50 MR. E. C. REED ON CHILIAN COLEOPTERA. [Jan. G, 



word may be used in a limited sense, and applied to parts where 

 a number of species are most common and whence they become 

 fewer on all sides, then we may define three " centres " or districts 

 in Chili. These I have already pointed out, in a communication to the 

 Bristol Naturalists' Society on the Botany of Chili (November, 1873). 



"Northern Chili" extends from Atacama to Coquimbo, and is little 

 else than the southern border of Atacama. Its characteristic 

 Coleoptera are a few genera of Tenebrionidse, such as Callyntra and 

 allies. Cicindela peruviana is peculiar to this district. I have 

 never collected there myself; but from small collections that I have 

 received from Mr. Thomas King and others, I consider it to be very 

 poor in species. 



Gay, in his work above alluded to, appears to have taken a large 

 number of species there ; but both Dr. Philippi and myself are con- 

 vinced that the greater part of these are not correctly referred to that 

 locality. 



"Central Chili" may extend from Coquimbo to Arauco (36° S.). 

 It is most rich and varied botanically ; and near the celebrated baths 

 of Chilian more species of animals and plants occur than probably 

 at any other place in Chili ; here too we find the northern limit of 

 the genus Ca?-abus in Chili ; C. chilensis and Cicindela chilensis 

 are peculiar to this district. Near Chilian and to the south dense 

 forests occur. The province of Arauco has never been explored, as 

 the Indians render it very unsafe ; when it is, many fine species will 

 surely be found there. 



"Southern Chili," consisting of the provinces of Valdivia and 

 Llanquihue, is one dense forest on the coast and for some forty miles 

 inland, while the central plains are well watered and covered with 

 bush. The species found in this province appear to have a wider 

 range than any other in Chili. The island of Chiloe and part of 

 Chonos must be included in this district. In 1870-71 I was com- 

 missioned by the Chilian Government to explore Chonos ; and the 

 results of my journey convinced me that nearly all the species 

 occurring there are stragglers from Valdivia, the number of species 

 rapidly decreasing in the south. Few new forms are met with ; and 

 amongst these are a very few Magellanic species. 



A few of the insects peculiar to this district are Cicindela gormazi, 

 Systolosoma brevis, all the Chilian Carabi except C. chilensis and C. 

 suturalis, Pachyteles biguttatus and marginicollis, Lecanomerus 

 marginatus, Lebia azurea, &c. 



About four hundred miles west of Valparaiso is situated the island 

 of Juan Fernandez. I carefully explored this island in 1872, and 

 found that a number of its natural productions were similar to those 

 of Chili, but that many new forms occurred. Of the six species of 

 Carabidse found there, three are also found in Chili, viz. Pristony- 

 chus chilensis, Bembidium punctigerum, and B. inconstans ; the 

 others are peculiar, viz. Trachysarus (gen. nov.) pallipes, Trechus 

 femoralis, and Variopalpus crusoei (sp. nov.). The neighbouring 

 island, Mas-a-fuera, has, I believe, never been explored entomo- 

 logically ; as a new species of Humming-bird has recently been found 

 there, we may reasonably expect to find some new Coleoptera. 



