ScHAKFF — S(0))e Iir)itn)-I{s oil the AUtiiiti-s Prchloii. 28D 



butterflies and moths in common with the Mediterranenn region ; wliilo 

 about 20 per cent, occur also in America. The authors, ho-wcvcr. do 

 not phice any signification npon this higli percentage of American 

 forms, as only seven species belong exclusively to the Canarian district, 

 all of wliich they look upon as having been imported in commerce. 

 One of the most remarkable forms is the small moth Setomorpha 

 discipunctella, vrhich, though peculiar to the Canary Islands, belongs to 

 a genus represented in America and Africa, and is closely allied to the 

 South American genus Lindcra. 



There are many cases of distribution proving the existence of 

 Africano-American relationship. The following may serve as familiar 

 examples: — -The nymphnlid genus Hypanartia is confined to South 

 America, Africa, and Madagascar. Amongst the Hesperidce, there are 

 three genera which are found in South America as well as in Africa — 

 viz., Oxynctra., Leucocliitonea^ and Pardaleodcs. A particularly sug- 

 gestive case of distribution is that of the remarkable and most 

 beautiful type Urania. Thongb this genus has now been separated 

 into the two genera TIranidia and Chrysicidia, their close relationship 

 is well seen by tlieir general structure and brilliant colouration. The 

 former inhabits Brazil, Central America, and the "West Indies ; the 

 other, Madagascar and Zanzibar. 



The Coleoptera, like the Lepidoptcra, are a popular group of insects ; 

 and it need not be wondered at that the beetles of the Atlantic Islands 

 have received a good deal of attention. Indeed, Dr. "Wallace, in his 

 paper on the beetles of Madeira, already quoted, bases his belief of the 

 ' occiinic ' nature of that island chiefly on the absence on it of certain 

 coleopterous continental forms. The arguments which I brought 

 forward in the introduction against those advanced by Dr. Wallace 

 need not be repeated here. 



Andrew Miu'ray (C) was the first to advance the theory, from a 

 study of the beetles, that West Africa and Brazil had been once united 

 by land — namely, at a period subsequent to the appearance of the 

 present forms of Coleoptera. The presence of the South-American 

 genus Lia in Old Calabar, of Goniotropis, HypoIitJius, Gahrifa, and 

 Alindria in West x\frica, seem to him to clearly indicate the existence 

 of a former land-communication between tlie latter country and South 

 America. 



Since the time that Miirray first announced these views, he found 

 many other genera of beetles exhibiting a similar relationship. And 

 he reiterated tiie same theories which he had expressed before in a 

 later paper, reinforced by additional facts and arguments. At the 



