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Show 50 MR. E. C. REED ON CHILIAN COLEOPTERA. [Jan. 6, word may be used in a limited sense, and applied to parts where a number of species are most common and whence they become fewer on all sides, then we may define three "centres" or districts in Chili. These I have already pointed out, in a communication to the Bristol Naturalists' Society on the Botany of Chili (November, 1873). "Northern Chili" extends from Atacama to Coquimbo, and is little else than the southern border of Atacama. Its characteristic Coleoptera are a few genera of Tenebrionidse, such as Callyntra and allies. Cicindela peruviana is peculiar to this district. I have never collected there myself; but from small collections that I have received from Mr. Thomas King and others, I consider it to be very poor in species. Gay, in his work above alluded to, appears to have taken a large number of species there ; but both Dr. Philippi and myself are convinced that the greater part of these are not correctly referred to that locality. "Central Chili" may extend from Coquimbo to Arauco (36° S.). It is most rich and varied botanically ; and near the celebrated baths of Chilian more species of animals and plants occur than probably at any other place in Chili; here too we find the northern limit of the genus Carabus in Chili; C. chilensis and Cicindela chilensis are peculiar to this district. Near Chilian and to the south dense forests occur. The province of Arauco has never been explored, as the Indians render it very unsafe ; when it is, many fine species will surely be found there. "Southern Chili," consisting of the provinces of Valdivia and Llanquihue, is one dense forest on the coast and for some forty miles inland, while the central plains are well watered and covered with bush. The species found in this province appear to have a wider range than any other in Chili. The island of Chiloe and part of Chonos must be included in this district. In 1870-71 I was commissioned by the Chilian Government to explore Chonos; and the results of m y journey convinced me that nearly all the species occurring there are stragglers from Valdivia, the number of species rapidly decreasing in the south. Few new forms are met with ; and amongst these are a very few Magellanic species. A few of the insects peculiar to this district are Cicindela gormazi, Systolosoma brevis, all the Chilian Carabi except C. chilensis and C. suturalis, Pachyteles biguttatus and marginicollis, Lecanomerus marginatus, Lebia azurea, &c. About four hundred miles west of Valparaiso is situated the island of Juan Fernandez. I carefully explored this island in 1872, and found that a number of its natural productions were similar to those of Chili, but that many new forms occurred. Of the six species of Carabidse found there, three are also found in Chili, viz. Pristony-chus chilensis, Bembidium punctigerum, and B. inconstans; the others are peculiar, viz. Trachysarus (gen. nov.) pallipes, Trechus femoralis, and Variopalpus crusoei (sp. nov.). The neighbouring island, Mas-a-fuera, has, I believe, never been explored entomo-logically ; as a new species of Humming-bird has recently been found there, we may reasonably expect to find some new Coleoptera. |