M. l^atreille on the GeograpMcal Distribution of Insects. 61 
the same relations, from the western regions of our hemisphere, 
and we must conclude, that it has not been detached from it 
during the last revolution of our planet. Lastly, when I ob- 
serve that the insects of the countries which surround the basins 
of the Mediterranean, the Black and the Caspian Seas, singular- 
ly resemble each other, as to the genera and families in which 
they are grouped ; when I consider that the greater number of 
them live exclusively on a soil, sandy, usually salt, and little 
wooded ; that the vegetables of these countries also present many 
points of agreement, the thought immediately rises in my mind^ 
that such countries have dra^vn their origin from the waters of 
the ocean ; but I fear lest I permit myself to be carried away, 
by a spirit of system. I shall only beg of geologists, to whose 
judgment I submit my conjectures, to permit me to give 
the analysis of a curious passage in Diodorus Siculus, (b. ik 
art. 70,) which appears to me to preserve, under the veil of 
allegory, a tradition relative to the changes which these coun- 
tries have undergone, which I think not inapplicable to my 
subject. 
The earth brought forth JSgide, a horrible monster, from 
whose throat issued a fearful quantity of flames. It appeared 
first in Phrygia, burned up that country, which took its name 
from the disaster, followed, as far as India, the chain of Mount 
Taurus, and reduced all its woods to ashes ; then falling back 
upon the Mediterranean, it fired the forests of Liban, traversed 
iEgypt, carried its ravages as far as the western parts of Lybia, 
and, once more changing its direction, terminated on the Cerau- 
nian Mountains. It desolated the country, caused a portion of 
the inhabitants to perish, and force4 the remainder to expatriate 
themselves to escape death. Minerva, by her prudence and 
courage, slew this monster, and has since borne its skin on her 
breast as a defensive armour. The earth irritated by its death, 
gave birth to giants, which were vanquished by Jupiter, aided 
by Minerva, Bacchus, and other deities.” 
Here, as in ail the mythologies of antiquity, the various 
agents of the power of nature arc deified or personified. The 
action of subterranean and volcanic fire, is represented under 
the allegory of a frightful monster, vomiting forth torrents of 
fire, which travels over, successively, the mountains of Asia Mi- 
