1840.] 



Himalayas and of India. 



109 



tyvorous ; and in proportion as food is ample or deficient, so probably 

 they abound in numbers, or decrease and vary in magnitude and form. 

 To its abundance we may in some measure attribute size, to its defici- 

 ency the frequency of dwarfishness of stature, immaturity, and many 

 of the numerous crippled specimens, as also some of the monstrosities 

 found in our collections. The great Latreille has justly observed, that 

 where the empire of Flora ends, there also terminates that of Zoology ; 

 and I have little doubt, that where vegetation is richest, there animal 

 groups also will be found most abundant in genera, species, and in- 

 dividuals, not only those which are herbivorous, but those also which are 

 carnivorous. 



It is not my intention here to enter into any det lils respecting the 

 Himalayan or Indian Flora. If the reader requires information on these 

 points, I refer him at once to the accurate and invaluable pages of Dr. 

 Wallich and Dr. Royle ; and as I at present look merely to the vegeta- 

 tion, as influencing in a great measure the character of the entomology 

 of the country, a concise outline of the leading features of the Botany 

 of those regions is all that is here requisite. Throughout India, accord- 

 ing to tlie above authorities, there appears to be an uniformity of vege- 

 tation, tropical species greatly predominating over those of the temperate 

 zones ; there occurs also a considerable admixture of genera belonging 

 to temperate climes, and at a high elevation plants abound, which are 

 indicative of Alpine regions. Several genera appear common to Europe, 

 North America, and India ; and in some instances identical species have 

 been recognized as existing in Europe and in Asia, as well as in the 

 New World. It still remains, however, with the botanist to determine 

 the similarity of vegetation in Western India and Africa, a similarity 

 which I anticipate will be eventually found to exist, if not at present 

 actually known— a similarity I am led to suspect solely from observing 

 a great resemblance in the ch aracter of the entomology of Western India 

 and Eastern Africa.* In many instances cognate species of Insects ap- 

 pear both in Africa and Asia, which, by a careless observer, might be 

 considered only as varieties ; they are, however, on examination, suf- 

 ficiently distinct, and I therefore think myself justified in esteeming them 

 the representatives of their respective countries, as undoubtedly they 

 fulfil the same olfices and functions in both. In several cases we meet 

 with identity of species in Asia and Africa ; and there is an observation 



• Vide p. 159 of the "Illustrations," where the similarity of vei^ftation in parts of 

 India and in Western Africa is referred to, as ori'^inally remarked by Mr. Brown, aiid 

 ■which has beea confinued by subsequent discoveries,— J. F, R. 



