1840.] 



Himalayas and of India, 



113 



pubescens, all of which I have reason to believe can live submerged 

 beneath the sea a considerable period. Of all other soils, c?«?/,* being 

 naturally cold, attracts fewer Insects, excepting the widely- disseminated 

 Harpali. In gravel, occur the genera Opatrum, Halictus, Cerceris, with 

 numerous colonies of Ants. To a chalky soil are attached the Ophoni, 

 Licini, Chcetophora, and various species of Polyommata, Osmia spinu- 

 losa, and Andrena hjiemorrhoidalis. When collecting in the mud of the 

 fresh- water marsh, we capture Blethisa, Chlaenius, Omaseus, and Ago- 

 num, and several Carabidae. In the slime of brackish waters, several No- 

 taphi are exceedingly abundant, though rare elsewhere ; and in company 

 with them we find the subaquatics Elophorus, Parnus, and springing Sal- 

 da. It has also been observed, that Pimelia is only to be met with where 

 the plants of the genus Salsola abound. Gatascopus and Elaphrus fre- 

 quent the alluvium of rivers. In the mud of lakes and pools various 

 genera of Eupodina, Nothiophilus, Bembidiadse, and Trechidas occur ; 

 and in vegetable mould, where the grass is luxuriant, numerous Diptera, 

 and Larvae of Lepidoptera, abound. Even in this short and imperfect 

 account of different genera attached to varieties of soil, sufficient has 

 already been stated to prove that it exerts an important control over the 

 range and distribution of Insect races : however, to give the naturalist a 

 better insight into Indian groups, I shall here add an analysis of the 

 leading families and genera which have fallen under my observation, and 

 then conclude with an abstract describing the leading characters of Hi- 

 malayan and Indian Entomology. 



From what has already been written, it will appear that Insects, in 

 their geographical distribution, are influenced by various causes ; by tem- 

 perature, by excess or deficiency of moisture, by the influence of vege- 

 tation, and by soil. There is yet, however, another, which materially 

 affects, in some instances, particular groups, namely, the peculiarity of 

 the organization of the!! Insects themselves. Should any genera of In- 

 sects occur which are deficient in the organs of locomotion, they would 

 naturally be restricted to certain localities. How many genera of the 

 Coleoptera and other orders are apterous, and are only found in particu- 

 lar situations ; and they have necessarily particular functions to perform 

 in their restricted limits, and also particular organs adapted to the work 

 assigned them by the Creator. It is to the study then of the differences 

 of organization adapted to differences of situation, and other external 

 circumstances wherever we find Insects, that the entomologist should 



* Mr. Shuckhard informs me, that Audrena labialis seems peculiarly attached to the 

 London clay. 



