The geographical distribution of animals, with a study of the relations ...

chap, x.] THE PAL^ARCTIC REGION. 229Japan (like North China) has a considerable infusion of tropicalforms, there is a preponderating substratum of Palrearctic forms,which clearly indicate the true position of the islandsin zoologicalgeography. There are also a few cases of what may bewhich show that Japan, like manycalled eccentric distribution ;other island-groups, has served as a kind of refuge in whichdying-out forms continue to maintain themselves.These, whichare worthy of notice, are as follows : Orthotrichus (1 sp.) hasthe only other species in Egypt ; Trechichus (1 sp.) has twoother species, of which one inhabits Madeira, the other theSouthern United States ;Perileptus (1 sp.) has two other species,of which one inhabits Bourbon, the other West Europe ; andlastly, Crepidogaster (1 sp.) has the other known species inSouth Africa.These cases diminish the value of the indicationsafforded by some of the Japanese forms, whose only allies aresingle species in various remote parts of the Oriental region.The Staphylinidse have been describedby Dr. Sharp, and hislist exhibits a great preponderance of north temperate, or cosmopolitanforms, with a few which are decidedly tropical. ThePselaphidae and Scydmenidre, also described by Dr. Sharp,exhibit, according to that gentleman, " even a greater resemblanceto those of North America than to those of Europe," but he saysnothing of any tropical affinities. The water-beetles are alleither Paleearctic or of wide distribution.The Lucanidse{Gemm. and Har. Cat, 1868) exhibit an interminglingof Palaearctic and Oriental genera.The Cetoniidse {Gemm. and Har. Gat. 1869) show, for NorthChina and Japan, three Oriental to two Palaearctic genera.The Buprestidse collected by Mr. Lewis have been describedby Mr. Edward Saunders in the Journal of the Linnman Society,vol. xi. p. 509. The collection consisted of thirty-six speciesbelonging to fourteen genera. No less than thirteen of theseare known also from India and the Malay Islands ; nine fromEurope ; seven from Africa ; six from America, and four fromChina.In six of the genera the Japanese species are said to beallied to those of the Oriental region ;while in three they areallied to European forms, and in two to American.Considering