114 



On the Entomology of the 



[July 



direct his attention. Contemplating all these instances of adaptation, we 

 reverence the wisdom of a creative and the heneficence of a superintend- 

 ing Providence, that prevents diminution and increase, both extremes of 

 ■uhich would prove injurious ; for without these " armies of the living 

 God," to keep in check the fecunditj- of nature, plague and pestilence 

 would walk abroad, and depopulate not a single country, or one quarter 

 of the globe, but the whole earth itself.* 



ANALYSIS 

 Op the entomology of the HIMALAYAS and of INDIA. 



CICINDELID^. 



The following genera be'onging to this family are not uncommon in 

 India, viz. Therates, Tricondyla, and Colliuris : the two former are 

 characteristic of a southern rang'', while the latter is abundant through- 

 out the eastern continent. Of Indian Cicindelidse, more than sixty 

 species have fallen under my notice : the most splendid of the race 

 abound in Nepal. Among various species, however, peculiar to the 

 Himalayas, only one approaches the form of our European Germanica. 



DRYPTID^ 



As I am only acquainted with a single species of Indian Casnonia, I 

 pass on to Drypta, a Nepalese individual of this family belonging to the 

 genus Desera, Leach, which is described in General Uardwicke's collec- 

 tion. Five others are also recorded as inhabiting India. 



LEBIADiE. 



Cymindis has not yet been discovered in India ; eventually it may 

 occur in the Himalayas : it is difficult to im rgine what genus takes its 

 place. Lebia is of rare occurrence in the East ; a non-de-cript, named 

 unicolor, in my collection, is from the Himalayas. Aploa is found at 

 Poona. Orthogonius is common to Africa and Asia : the gigantic species, 

 however, predominate in the latter country. 



* In concluding my observations on the gpo^raphical distribution of Insects, I think 

 it may be stated, that naturalists on this subject have almost exclusively directed their 

 attention to temiierature. "Where temperature fails, we may turn to vegetation ; and 

 if the latter is not sufficient, then to the soil and strata of a country, and even to the 

 organization of the Insects themselves, as well as other causes. No one by itself is suf- 

 ficient to unravel the difiicuUies which aiise ; by uniting all, howevei> we may iu a 

 great measure accouut for the vaiiuus Uiscrejpauciea tiiat occur. 



