"Many of the species of Carabidoe and of Staphylinidoe, especially those collected by Mr. Thwaites, near Kandy, and by M. Nietner at Colombo, have much resemblance to the insects of these two families in North Europe; in the Scydmoenidoe, Ptiliadoe, Phalacridoe, Nitidulidoe, Colydiadoe, and Lathridiadoe the northern form is still more striking, and strongly contrasts with the tropical forms of the gigantic Copridoe, Buprestidoe, and Cerambycidoe, and with the Elateridoe, Lampyridoe, Tenebrionidoe, Helopidoe, Meloidoe, Curculionidoe, Prionidoe, Cerambycidoe, Lamiidoe, and Endomychidoe.
"The Copridoe, Dynastidoe, Melolonthidoe, Cetoniadoe, and Passalidoe are well represented on the plains and on the coast, and the species are mostly of a tropical character.
"The Hydrophilidoe have a more northern aspect, as is generally the case with aquatic species.
"The order Strepsiptera is here considered as belonging to the Mordellidoe, and is represented by the genus Myrmecolax, which is peculiar, as yet, to Ceylon.
"In the Curculionidoe the single species of Apion will recall to mind the great abundance of that genus in North Europe.
"The Prionidoe and the two following families have been investigated by Mr. Pascoe, and the Hispidoe, with the five following families, by Mr. Baly; these two gentlemen are well acquainted with the above tribes of beetles, and kindly supplied me with the names of the Ceylon species.
Order ORTHOPTERA.
"These insects in Ceylon have mostly a tropical aspect. The Physapoda, which will probably be soon incorporated with them, are likely to be numerous, though only one species has as yet been noticed.
Order NEUROPTERA.
"The list here given is chiefly taken from the catalogue published by Dr. Hagen, and containing descriptions of the species named by him or by M. Nietner. They were found in the most elevated parts of the island, near Rambodde, and Dr. Hagen informs me that not less than 500 species have been noticed in Ceylon, but that they are not yet recorded, with the exception of the species here enumerated. It has been remarked that the Trichoptera and other aquatic Neuroptera are less local than the land species, owing to the more equable temperature of the habitation of their larvæ, and on account of their being often conveyed along the whole length of rivers. The species of Psocus in the list are far more numerous than those yet observed in any other country, with the exception of Europe.