Page:Aspects of nature in different lands and different climates; with scientific elucidations (IA b29329668 0002).pdf/126

 *[Footnote: acquainted by gardens, descriptions, or herbariums), than there are known insects. According to the average of the statements which I have received from several of our most distinguished entomologists whom I have had the opportunity of consulting, the number of insects at present described, or contained in collections without being described, may be taken at between 150000 and 170000 species. The rich Berlin collection does not contain less than 90000 species, among which are about 82000 Coleoptera. A very large number of plants have been collected in distant parts of the globe, without the insects which live on them or near them being brought at the same time. If, however, we limit the estimates of numbers to a single part of the world, and that the one which has been the best explored in respect to both plants and insects, viz. Europe, we find a very different proportion; for while we can hardly enumerate between seven and eight thousand European phænogamous plants, more than three times that number of European insects are already known. According to the interesting communications of my friend Dohrn at Stettin, 8700 insects have already been collected from the rich Fauna of that vicinity, (and many micro-Lepidopteræ are still wanting), while the phænogamous plants of the same district scarcely exceed 1000. The Insect Fauna of Great Britain is estimated at 11600 species. Such a preponderance of animal forms need the less surprise us, since large classes of insects subsist solely on animal substances, and others on agamous vegetation (funguses, and even those which are subterra-*]*