COLEOPTERA. 
205 
the Museum of the University of Berlin, the richest 
that exists, consists of no fewer than 28,000 species; 
and when we consider how many others must he con- 
tained in the cabinets of England, Holland, Germany, 
and other places, not to be found in these, we are 
justified in affirming that upwards of 40,000 distinct 
species of Coleoptera actually exist in collections. 
It is more difficult to form a satisfactory estimate of 
their total amount in nature. The following is the 
most recent attempt of this kind we have seen ; and, 
in connection with the adjoining table, will shew, at 
one view, the supposed relative extent of the differ- 
ent orders, both as actually known, and as they exist 
in all the countries of the globe 
Supposed to exist in 
Collections. 
Supposed to ex 
in Nature. 
Coleoptera 
40,000 
120,000 
Diptera, . 
10,000 
100,000 
Hymenoptera, 
. 12,000 
72,000 
Hemiptera, 
5000 
25,000 
Lepidoptera, 
10,000 
20,000 
Parasita, . 
500 
10,000 
Neuroptera, 
1,500 
9000 
Orthoptera, 
. 1000 
6000 
80,000 
362,000 
The following table indicates, but in a manner 
which can only be regarded as an approximation to 
the reality, the ratio in which the Coleoptera increase 
in receding from the poles and approaching the equa- 
tor, in obedience to that most general of all laws 
regulating the distribution of animals on the earth’s 
O O 
