Cuming) in the
central islands of the Pacific. On the other hand, there are
Galapageian species of Oniscia and Stylifer, genera common to the
West Indies and to the Chinese and Indian seas, but not found
either on the west coast of America or in the central Pacific. I
may here add, that after the comparison by Messrs. Cuming and Hinds
of about 2000 shells from the eastern and western coasts of
America, only one single shell was found in common, namely, the
Purpura patula, which inhabits the West Indies, the coast of
Panama, and the Galapagos. We have, therefore, in this quarter of
the world, three great conchological sea-provinces, quite distinct,
though surprisingly near each other, being separated by long north
and south spaces either of land or of open sea.
I took great pains in collecting the insects, but excepting Tierra
del Fuego, I never saw in this respect so poor a country. Even in
the upper and damp region I procured very few, excepting some
minute Diptera and Hymenoptera, mostly of common mundane forms. As
before remarked, the insects, for a tropical region, are of very
small size and dull colours. Of beetles I collected twenty-five
species (excluding a Dermestes and Corynetes imported wherever a
ship touches); of these, two belong to the Harpalidae, two to the
Hydrophilidae, nine to three families of the Heteromera, and the
remaining twelve to as many different families.
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