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488 GEOGRAPHICAL ZOOLOGY. [part iv.
the earth which have been found best to represent the facts of
distribution in the higher animals.
CAKABID^. (620 Genera, 8500 Species.)
The enormous extent of this family, necessitates a somewhat
general treatment. It has been very extensively collected, while
its classification has been most carefully worked out, and a
detailed exposition of its geographical distribution by a compe-
tent entomologist would be of the greatest interest. A careful
study of Gemminger and Harold's Catalogue, however, enables
me to sketch out the main features of its distribution, and to
detail many of its peculiarities with considerable accuracy.
The Carabidse are remarkable among insects, and perhaps
among all terrestrial animals, as being a wonderfully numerous,
varied, conspicuous, and beautifid group, which is pre-eminently
characteristic of the Palaarctic region. So strikingly and
unmistakably is this the case, that it must be held completely
to justify the keeping that region distinct from those to which
it has at various times been proposed to join it. Although tlie
Carabidffi are thoroughly well represented by hosts of peculiar
genera and abundant species in every part of the world without
exception, yet the Palsearctic region alone contains fully one-
third, or perhaps nearer two-fifths, of the whole. It may also be
said, that the group is a temperate as compared with a tropical
one ; so that probably half the species are to be found in the
temperate and cold regions of the globe, leaving about an equal
number in the much more extensive tropical and warm regions.
But, among the cold regions, the Palsearctic is pre-eminent.
North America is also rich, but it contains, by far, fewer genera
and fewer species.
The magnificent genus Carabus, with its allies Procerus
and Procrustes, containing about 300 species, aU of large size,
is almost wholly confined to the Palsearctic region, only 10
species inhabiting North America, and 11 Temperate South
America, with one on the African mountain of Kilimandjaro.
Twelve large genera, containing together more than 2000 species,
are truly cosmopolitan, inhabiting both temperate and tropical