THE NEIGHBOURHOOD OF EDINBURGH. 447 
unfavourable circumstance, is the deficiency of wood in the 
immediate vicinity of the town ; and although this objec- 
tion is not equally applicable to some other parts of the 
district, particularly Dalkeith and Rosslyn, yet these places 
have not hitherto furnished any considerable number of the 
kinds confined to such haunts. It will accordingly be per- 
ceived, that the Cerambycidae, Lepturidas, and some other 
insects whose habitat is chiefly in woods, are not propor- 
tionate in number to most of the other families. It is pro- 
bable, however, that not very many of these insects are to 
be found in Scotland. Even some of the finest species ad- 
mitted into the English Fauna, are not original inhabitants 
of Britain, but have been accidentally imported from other 
countries, and in process of time naturalised. Their 
proper geographical position is in the countries adjoining 
the equator, and they consequently diminish in number in 
proportion to the distance from thence. Scotland is consi- 
derably to the north of the limit where they cease to be 
common, and presents no local peculiarities favourable to 
their increase *. 
As it is not only interesting but important to connect the 
characteristic or prevailing features of animal life with the 
peculiarities of climate, and as a general knowledge of the 
relations which exist between the dominating species and 
the physical characters of a country can only be collected 
by degrees, I think it advisable to state the following par- 
ticulars regarding the climate of Edinburgh, which I have 
received from Mr Adie, well known for the skill and accu- 
racy of his meteorological observations. The average tem- 
perature throughout the year, as deduced from a register 
• In addition to the few aboriginal native species which have been 
noticed near Edinburgh, the following have been taken in Dumfries- 
shire by the Rev. W. Little : — Rhagium Indagator, Saperda scalaris, 
Leptura quadrifasciata, Leptura laevis. 
