SOUTHERN EUROPE. INSECTS. 37 



nently distinct from that of tlie central and northern 

 latitudes. As we approach the provinces of Spain^ 

 Southern Italy, and the Peloponnesus, we find many 

 genera which have their chief metropolis in Asia and 

 Northern Africa ; 'while the rapacious family of Cara- 

 hidcE does not exhibit one fifth of the number of species 

 which inhabit Britain alone. The same may be said of 

 the Staphylinidce and the Silphidce. On the other hand, 

 all those coleopterous, hymenopterous, and other insects 

 which delight in a sandy soil similar to that of Africa, 

 begin to show themselves > as the genera Scarabaus 

 M'L., Trox, Scarites F., Pimela ¥., Sphex, Bembex, 

 Anthrax, Osmia, Nomada, Chrysis, &c. Ants, as in 

 tropical countries, become the universal scavengers, and 

 are of numerous species ; while of the Termites, or 

 white ants, hitherto considered as almost restricted to 

 tropical latitudes, one species is found in the south of 

 France, and we have discovered another in Sicily. The 

 Lepidoptera are less peculiar. One half of the British 

 diurnal species are found in Sicily, intermixed with 

 others of Central Europe, and with two or three of those 

 found in Northern Africa. Among these, the most 

 striking and beautiful is the Jasia Europcea Sw., the 

 Papilio Jasius of the old authors. This noble butterfly, 

 however, seems to be rare even in the south of Italy ; 

 where, during many years, we captured only two specimens. 

 The Eurymus edusa 

 of Britain is liice- fk%/^ 

 wise common ; as also -^''< ^*<^> 

 the Pieris Daplicide, 

 A.Lathonia, and cne 

 or two others of our 

 rarest butterflies. The 

 Gonepteryx Cleopa- 

 tria takes the place of our G. Rhamni ; but all our 

 clear-winged Sesice seem to be almost unknown in Italy. 

 Scorpions, which are happily strangers with us, are 

 frequently met with in the houses of Sicily ; and we were 



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