uu 1 2 
Mr. A. Murray on Coleoptera from Old Calabar. 169 
West Africa and Brazil from the Azores southwards. In the 
different patches of land (the islands of Madeira, Canaries, &c.) 
which are the surviving remnants of this continent we have 
many species of Coleoptera identical with those of Europe, 
and a still greater number most closely allied to them; and 
that fact in itself, I think, shows that the existence of this 
Atlantic continent must have been more recent than the con- 
nexion between Brazil and West Africa; for, although Africa 
has many species closely allied to those in Brazil, they are fewer 
than the allied species of Europe found in Madeira &c., an 
not above two or three instances of actual identity of species 
can be pointed out: and the case in which most similarity and 
identity of species is to be found ought surely to be regarded 
as the most recently united; for the greater the lapse of time, 
the greater the opportunity for changes of condition and con- 
sequent alteration in species. Independent of this altogether, 
however, if it is once admitted that the Atlantic continent must 
have been of recent date, it follows that it must have been the 
last ; for the faunas show the last relation still surviving ; and 
therefore the equatorial connexion between Brazil and Africa 
must have been older ; for they could not both have existed at 
the same time, as is proved by the entire absence of the 
Brazilian element in the Atlantic faunas. 
Applying these considerations to the case before us, they 
will correct the first impression that might naturally occur to 
to us, viz. that @denoderus was just as likely to belong to the 
Clytide as the GZmide, as both until now occurred in Brazil, 
but not in West Africa ; for if we separate the Brazilian types 
Achrysonide (a group-also suggested by Lacordaire) ; but I 
think the n tm ess is ic that of the former than the 
latter. And if Lacordaire is right in pa the European 
genus Zcosium in it (which, however, I doubt), that seems an 
additional reason for giving the preference to the Œmidæ. 
