CHAP. XIV.] 
ST. HELENA. 
289 
species belonging to four European genera — Homalota, Philon- 
thus, Xantholinus, and Oxytelus. 
5. Priocerata. — The families Elateridse and Anobiidse are 
each represented by a peculiar species of a European genus. 
6. Phytophaga. — There are only three species of this tribe, 
belonging to the European genus Longitarsus. 
7. Lamellicornis. — Here are three species belonging to 
two genera. One is a peculiar species of Trox, allied to South 
African forms ; the other two belong to the peculiar genus 
MeJissius, which Mr. Wollaston considers to be remotely allied 
to Australian insects. 
8. Pseudo-trimera. — Here we have the fine lady-bird Chilo- 
menus lunata , also found in Africa, but apparently indigenous in 
St. Helena ; and a peculiar species of Euxestes, a genus only 
found elsewhere in Madeira. 
9. Trichopteryghle. — These, the minutest of beetles, are 
represented by one species of the European and Madeiran genus 
Ptinella. 
10. Necrophaga. — One indigenous species of Cryptophaga 
inhabits St. Helena, and this is said to be very closely allied to 
a Cape species. 
Peculiarities and Origin of the Coleoptera of St. Helena. — We 
see that the great mass of the indigenous species are not only 
peculiar to the island, but so isolated in their characters as to 
show no close affinity with any existing insects ; while a small 
number (about one-third of the whole) have some relations, 
though often very remote, with species now inhabiting Europe, 
Madeira, or South Africa. These facts clearly point to the 
very great antiquity of the insect fauna of St. Helena, which 
has allowed time for the modification of the originally introduced 
species, and their special adaptation to the conditions prevailing 
in this remote island. This antiquity is also shown by the re- 
markable specific modification of a few types. Thus the whole 
of the Cossonidse may be referred to three types, one species only 
( Ilexacoptus ferrugireus) being allied to the European Cossonidm 
though forming a distinct genus ; a group of three genera and 
seven species remotely allied to the Stenoscelis hylastoides, which 
occurs also at the Cape ; while a group of twelve genera with 
U 
