M. Latreille on the Geograph ical Distribution of Insects. 371 
good Fauna of Greenland, makes mention of only 468 species of 
animals, and the number of insects, including under that class, af- 
ter the manner of Linnaeus, both the crustaceous animals and the 
Arachnides, merely amounts to 110*. Lastly, as one approaches 
those regions where winter rules without ceasing, all living 
things disappear, and Nature no longer possesses the power of 
production. The plains which border on the Polar Regions, are 
found in that respect, to be in the same state of inertia as those 
parts where the region of perpetual congelation commences 
among the mountains of the torrid zone, or on those of the most 
fruitful countries. These mountains, considered in relation to 
the vegetables and animals which are proper to them, form gra- 
dually, and, by superposition, particular climates, of which the 
temperature and the productions are similar to those of plains in 
more northern countries. It is thus that the Alps are the habi- 
tation of many insects which are not found elsewhere, except in 
the north of Europe. 
The insect called Prionus dcpsarius , which appeared till now 
to have no other country than Sweden, has lately been disco- 
vered among the mountains of Switzerland. I have myself taken 
at Cantal the Lycus minutus , supposed to have been confined to 
the most northern provinces of Europe. Thus, also, that beau- 
tiful insect called by Linnaeus the Apollo Butterfly, so common 
among the fields and gardens in the neighbourhood of Upsal, 
as well as in other parts of Sweden, does not live in France, ex- 
cept on mountains, the elevation of which is at least 600 or 700 
toises above the level of the sea. The Carabus auratus j*, the 
Acrydium grossum, many of our butterflies, the common viper, 
(Coluber herns), &c. living here (the latitude of Paris) in the 
plains, or on very slight elevations, have, in the south of France 
and Italy, their domicil on alpine or subalpine mountains. There 
these animals find a similar temperature, and the same nutritive 
substances. The intelligent entomologist will always take into 
* It is possible that this author has mentioned only the more remarkable spe- 
cies, and has not intended to give a complete entomology of the part of Green- 
land of which he studied the productions. But one is, nevertheless, authorised in 
concluding, that the number is there very limited. 
•f The proper Carabi have their principal seat in the temperate zones, rather 
approaching the north, or elevated situations, than the south. They occur In 
Spain and Barhary ; but there the species are few in number. 
