chap, x.] THE PAL^ARCTIC REGION. 229 



Japan (like North China) has a considerable infusion of tropical 

 forms, there is a preponderating substratum of Palsearctic forms, 

 which clearly indicate the true position of the islands in zoolo- 

 gical geography. There are also a few cases of what may be 

 called eccentric distribution ; which show that Japan, like many 

 other island-groups, has served as a kind of refuge in which 

 dying-out forms continue to maintain themselves. These, which 

 are worthy of notice, are as follows : Orthotrichus (1 sp.) has 

 the only other species in Egypt ; Trechichus (1 sp.) has two 

 other species, of which oue inhabits Madeira, the other the 

 Southern United States ; Perileptus (1 sp.) has two other species, 

 of which one inhabits Bourbon, the other West Europe ; and 

 lastly, Crepidogaster (1 sp.) has the other known species in 

 South Africa. These cases diminish the value of the indications 

 afforded by some of the Japanese forms, whose only allies are 

 single species in various remote parts of the Oriental region. 



The Staphylinidse have been described by Dr. Sharp, and his 

 list exhibits a great preponderance of north temperate, or cosmo- 

 politan forms, with a few which are decidedly tropical. The 

 Pselaphidae and Scydmenidse, also described by Dr. Sharp, 

 exhibit, according to that gentleman, " even a greater resemblance 

 to those of North America than to those of Europe," but he says 

 nothing of any tropical affinities. The water-beetles are all 

 either Palsearctic or of wide distribution. 



The Lucanidse (Gcmm. and Har. Cat, 1868) exhibit an inter- 

 mingling of Paleearctic and Oriental genera. 



The Cetoniidae (Gemm. and Har. Cat. 1869) show, for North 

 China and Japan, three Oriental to two Paleearctic genera. 



The Buprestidae collected by Mr. Lewis have been described 

 by Mr. Edward Saunders in the Journal of the Linncean Society, 

 vol. xi. p. 509. The collection consisted of thirty-six species 

 belonging to fourteen genera. No less than thirteen of these 

 are known also from India and the Malay Islands ; nine from 

 Europe ; seven from Africa ; six from America, and four from 

 China. In six of the genera the Japanese species are said to be 

 allied to those of the Oriental region ; while in three they are 

 allied to European forms, and in two to American. Considering 



