( 219 ) , X. On the Geodephagous Colcoptera of Japan. By H. AY. Bates, F.L.S. [Read 17tb February, 1873.] The following enumeration and description of the Clcin-delidcB and Carabida of Japan are founded chiefly on the magnificent collection made by Mr. George Lewis during a five years' residence in that country, chiefly at Nagasaki, in the island of Kushiu, and at Hiogo and Osaka in the main island of Nipon. Although these two families had already received much attention, chiefly from Russian travellers and residents, and a large number had b(3en described by Morawitz, Motschulsky, and others; ISIr. Lewis has more than trebled the number of known species from this country, and added 120 new species to science. The total number now known is 244 species, comprised in 84 genera, a number that wiJl no doubt be yet con-siderably increased, as the British Islands, lying in a much more northerly latitude, contain many more, viz., 311 species. It is not very probable, however, that future discoveries will alter materially the general character of the Fauna of Japan in this department ; for, although the larger portion of the island of Nipon to the north and east is as yet unworked ; collections have been received from many distant points on all the islands, and they show a tolerable uniformity in their productions. We may con-sider, therefore, that we have now material sufhcieut to afford a fair idea of the relations of the Coleopterous Fauna of Japan with that of other countries whose pro-ductions are equally well known ; and the Geodepharja may be taken as very good representatives of all the Coleoptera for this purpose. The first stage in the inquiry is the most difficult, viz., how far is the Fauna of Japan endemic or peculiar ? the difficulty arising fi^-om our ignorance of the productions of that part of the Asiatic continent wliich lies nearest to the islands, viz., Korea. The straits between the larger islands of Japan and Korea are partly bridged over by smaller islands, so that the widest space of sea to be TRANS. ENT. SOC. 1873. — PART II. (mAY.)
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