Order DIPTERA.

“About fifty species were observed by Dr. Templeton, but most of those here recorded were collected by Mr. Thwaites at Kandy, and have a great likeness to North European species.  The mosquitoes are very annoying on account of their numbers, as might be expected from the moisture and heat of the climate. Culex laniger is the coast species, and the other kinds here mentioned are from Kandy.  Humboldt observed that in some parts of South America each stream had its peculiar mosquitoes, and it yet remains to be seen whether the gnats in Ceylon are also thus restricted in their habitation.  The genera Sciara, Cecidomyia, and Simulium, which abound so exceedingly in temperate countries, have each one representative species in the collection made by Mr. Thwaites.  Thus an almost new field remains for the Entomologist in the study of the yet unknown Singhalese Diptera, which must be very numerous.

Order HEMIPTERA.

“The species of this order in the list are too few and too similar to those of Hindustan to need any particular mention. Lecanium coffeae may be noticed, on account of its infesting the coffee plant, as its name indicates, and the ravages of other species of the genus will be remembered, from the fact that one of them, in other regions, has put a stop to the cultivation of the orange as an article of commerce.

“In conclusion, it may be observed that the species of insects in Ceylon may be estimated as exceeding 10,000 in number, of which about 2000 are enumerated in this volume.

Class ARACHNIDA.

“Four or five species of spiders, of which the specimens cannot be satisfactorily described; one Ixodes and one Chelifer have been forwarded to England from Ceylon by Mr. Thwaites.”

* * * * *

NOTE.—­The asterisk prefixed denotes the species discovered in Ceylon since Sir J.E.  Tennent’s departure from the Island in 1849.

Order COLEOPTERA, Linn.

Fam.  CICINDELIDAE, Steph.

Cicindela, Linn.
  flavopunctata, Aud.
  discrepans, Wlk.
  aurofasciaca, Guer.
  quadrilineata, Fabr.
  biramosa, Fabr.
  catena, Fabr.
  insignificans, _Dohrn._

Tricondyla, Latr.
  femorata, Wlk.
  tumidula, _Wlk._
  scitiscabra, Wlk.
  concinna, _Dohrn._

Fam.  CARABIDAE, Leach.

Casnonia, Latr.
  punctata, _Niet._
  pilifera, Niet.

Ophionea, Klug.
  cyanocephala, _Fabr._

Euplynes, Niet.
  Dohrni, Niet.

Heteroglossa, Niet.
  elegans, _Niet._
  ruficollis, Niet.
  bimaculata, _Niet._

Zuphium, Latr.
  pubescens, _Niet._