42 



CHAPTER VI. 



GENERAL REMARKS ON THE GEOGRAPHICAL 

 DISTRIBUTION OF THE PETALOCERA. 



1 HE geography of natural history is as yet but an infant 

 branch of the science, which may be said to owe the 

 principal nurture it has received, as well as its birth, to the 

 labours of the enlightened Humboldt. It had, it is true, 

 been already observed by BufFon, that the animals of the 

 new world are different from those of the old ; and various 

 travellers had shown that the productions of different 

 countries bear a character peculiar to each. But these 

 were all rude and fortuitous observations, which had no 

 view whatever to general consequences, or to the deve- 

 lopement of those laws by which it is now certain that 

 the geographical distribution of organized matter was re- 

 gulated at the creation. M. Humboldt and our cele- 

 brated countryman Mr. Brown have both contributed 

 greatly towards the discovery of these laws, so far as they 

 relate to the vegetable kingdom; but the geography of ani- 

 mals is as yet enveloped in some degree of obscurity ; and 

 in entomology above all, nothing has yet appeared to dis- 

 pel these clouds, excepting the excellent Memoire of M. 

 Latreille, which is published in the Annales du Museum. 

 But this paper, proof as it undoubtedly must ever remain 

 of the profound learning and inimitable tact for observa- 

 tion of its author, is still rather a collection of facts than 



