222 



MR. R. M'LACHLAN ON A SYSTEMATIC 



names sinking as synonyms. Many additional, but undescribed, 

 species probably exist in various museums and private collections. 

 I have taken no cognizance of museum or catalogue names with- 

 out descriptions. The materials from which I have worked are : — ■ 

 (1) the very extensive collection of the British Museum ; (2) the 

 valuable collection in the Oxford Museum, especially interesting 

 as containing a considerable portion of Mr. Bates's private Ama- 

 zonian collections, for an opportunity of consulting which I am 

 indebted to the courtesy of Professor Westwood ; (3) the col- 

 lection of Baron de Selys Longchamps, of Liege, which contains 

 most of Kambur's types ; and (4) my own collection. 



Geographical Distribution. 



The range of the family may be said to extend from between 

 the parallels of 40°-50° K, and 30°-40° S. ; but, as a rule, it is 

 more abundantly represented within the tropics. The various 

 generic groups exhibit a decided tendency to localization. In no 

 case is the same group represented both in the Old and New 

 Worlds. I give below an outline of distribution according to 

 groups : — 



Mediterranean District. — Ascalaphus (extending into Central 

 Europe and Central Asia) ; Bubo, Puer, Theleproctopliylla. 



Asia. — Idricerus (India) ; Helicomitus (India) ; Siphlocerus (In- 

 dia) ; Ogcugaster (India) ; Ascalaphodes (India) ; Glyptobasis (In- 

 dia) ; Acheron (India, China) ; Hybris (India, China, Japan, Ma- 

 layan archipelago) ; SupJialasca ? (Malay archipelago). 



Africa. — Melambrotus (South-west) ; Tmesibasis (South-east) ; 

 Cormodes (West) ; Helcopteryx (South) ; Proctarrelabris (South) ; 

 NepJioneura (South) ; Encyoposis, SupJialasca, ? 



Australia. — SupJialasca, Acmonotus. 



America. — Ulula, Orphne, Colobopterus, Cordulecerus, Haplo- 

 glenius, Ptynsc. 



Habits, &c. 



There is probably scarcely any group of insects of equal im- 

 portance of which less has been recorded in a biological point of 

 view. The numerous class of explorers, more or less disinterested 

 in their intentions, find full occupation in geographical and eth- 

 nological subjects, with an occasional notice of some remarkable 

 point in the higher branches of zoology. On the other hand, 

 those travellers who avowedly make the collecting of natural- 



