488 
G E0GRAP1I ICAL ZOOLOG Y. 
[part IV. 
the earth which have been found best to represent the facts of 
distribution in the higher animals. 
CABABIDJE. (620 Genera, 8500 Species.) 
The enormous extent of this family, necessitates a somewhat 
general treatment. It has been very extensively collected, while 
its classification has been most carefully worked out, and a 
detailed exposition of its geographical distribution by a compe- 
tent entomologist would be of the greatest interest. A careful 
study of Gemminger and Harold’s Catalogue, however, enables 
me to sketch out the main features of its distribution, and to 
detail many of its peculiarities with considerable accuracy. 
The Carabidfe are remarkable among insects, and perhaps 
among all terrestrial animals, as being a wonderfully numerous, 
varied, conspicuous, and beautiful group, which is pre-eminently 
characteristic of the Palsearctic region. So strikingly and 
unmistakably is this the case, that it must be held completely 
to justify the keeping that region distinct from those to which 
it has at various times been proposed to join it. Although the 
Carabidse are thoroughly well represented by hosts of peculiar 
genera and abundant species in every part of the world without 
exception, yet the Pakearctic region alone contains fully one- 
third, or perhaps nearer two -fifths, of the whole. It may also be 
said, that the group is a temperate as compared with a tropical 
one ; so that probably half the species are to be found in the 
temperate and cold regions of the globe, leaving about an equal 
number in the much more extensive tropical and warm regions. 
But, among the cold regions, the Palsearctic is pre-eminent. 
North America is also rich, but it contains, by far, fewer genera 
and fewer species. 
The magnificent genus Cardbus, with its allies Procerus 
and Procrustes , containing about 300 species, all of large size, 
is almost wholly confined to the Pala?arctic region, only 10 
species inhabiting North America, and 11 Temperate South 
America, with one on the African mountain of Kilimandjaro. 
Twelve large genera, containing together more than 2000 species, 
re truly cosmopolitan, inhabiting both temperate and tropical 
