INTRODUCTION. 
3 
phorus, Cetonia, Telephorus, Tentyria, Pimelia, Acis, Asida and Otiorhynchus are 
altogether wanting. The vast race of the Thaleropliagous Lamellicorns {vid. p. 235), 
as also the immense department of the Elateridcc {vid. p. 239), are represented 
apparently by but a single form,—as are also the Silphidcc, Telephoridce, Tenty- 
riadcc, and the (Edemeridce. 
Of the 13 primary sections into which I have distributed the entire Coleoptera, 
the Rhyncophora contains the largest amount of species, and the Eucerata the 
smallest. Arranged numerically, they are as follows : Rhyncophora (104), Necro- 
phaga (80), Geodephaga (G3), Brachelytra (74), Priocerata (35), Atrachelia (29), 
Cordylocerata (22), Phytopliaga (21), Pseudotrimera (17), Philhydrida (13), Tra- 
chclia (11), Hydradephaga (7), Eucerata (6). Now there is an anomaly in these 
proportions, which it is not easy, at first sight, to account for,—namely, that, 
whilst Madeira is essentially a land of wood and streams, the Longicorns and 
Water-beetles should be the least shadowed forth of the whole. As regards the 
tatter of these, however, the deficiency is not difficult to understand,—the rapid 
nature of the rivers, which are liable to sudden inundations from the mountains, 
and to deposit their contents in positions distant from their banks, or to pour in 
ceaseless torrents over the perpendicular faces of the rocks, being anything but 
favourable to insect life. 
Of the 56 families which enter our lists, the Curculionidce, Staphylmida and 
Carabidce (as might be expected) take the lead,—the first numbering 80 species, 
the second 73, and the third 63. The next, in point of extent, is the Colydiadce , 
—wffiich contains 19. The Galerucidts has 13; the Lathridiadce and Coccmellidce 
12; the Aphodiadce 10; the Melyridce 7; the Dytiscidce, Histeridce and Ceram- 
bicidce 6; the Chrysomelidce 4, and the Scydnicenidce 1. 
Of the genera with which we have here to do, Tarphius and Homalota (each of 
which have 15 representatives) rank first. Then comes Atlantis (which has 14); 
Acalles (13); Ptmus (10); Trechus and llelops (9); Bembidivm and Lcemo- 
phlceus (8); Caulotrupis, Apion and Philonthus (7); JDromms, Corticaria, Aplw- 
dius, Longitarsus and Scymnus (6); Lixus, Sitona, Psylliodes, Coccinella and 
Oxytelus (5), &c. 
In glancing over oiu‘ catalogue, we shall be struck, apart from the dearth in the 
Hydradephaga and Eucerata (already commented upon), by the great scarcity of 
the flower-infesting tribes,—which, in a country like Madeira, where vegetation 
is redundant, is not a little extraordinary. Thus, to take the various families, in 
succession, which may be considered as par excellence falling under that denomi- 
to have been incorrectly referred (as was also, I imagine, his Melancrus Amaroides) to the islands of our 
present group. They may possibly have been Canarian, or (which is more likely still) from the Azores ; 
but until further evidence than that of a mere Catalogue (formed in another coimtry, and subjected to 
all the chances of uncertain information) be supplied, I confess I shah not be inclined to regard them as 
otherwise than apocryphal. 
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