Zoological Society, 345 



Genus 3. Mimela. 

 " This elegant genus, rivalling in colour and splendour the Bupres- 

 tida, is confined to Asia ; it ranges wherever Euchlora is found. 



Genus 4. Rhombonyx. 



" This genus is probably peculiar to Asia. One species is found 

 in China, and the other, I have reason to think, is only found in 

 Asiatic Siberia. 



Genus 5. Anomala. 



" Anomala is common to the four quarters of the globe, and may 

 properly be divided into three if not four subgenera, which task I 

 willingly leave to other entomologists. 



" In concluding these observations on Euchlora, I have only to add , 

 that it may excite some surprise that this genus extends far into the 

 Himalayan regions ; it may be explained however, satisfactorily, by 

 the influence of local causes. It is an ascertained fact, that tropical 

 vegetation often extends into high latitudes, and why, then, may we 

 not expect to find insects which feed upon it, and are intended pro- 

 bably to keep it within due bounds ? 



" From information given to me by my friend Professor Royle, I 

 state that the tropic-girt base of the Himalayas is characterized by 

 a vigorous and luxurious vegetation. 



" In the same regions there is also an uniformity or great equality 

 of temperature, well adapted for animal as well as vegetable life. 

 The exuberance of the latter adds to the humidity of the atmo- 

 sphere, as well by the exhalation of the foliage as by preventing 

 free evaporation from the soil. In the boundless forest and inter- 

 minable jungle there will generally be found a great equality of tem- 

 perature, brought about in consequence of the umbrageous shelter 

 impeding the absorption of heat by day, as it checks the free radia- 

 tion of it at night. It is then, owing to the presence of tropical 

 vegetation, united with moisture, that there arises considerable uni- 

 formity of temperature ; in a word, it is from local causes that we 

 are enabled to explain the reasons why we meet with the repre- 

 sentatives of tropical genera of plants and insects extending into 

 higher latitudes than at first might naturally be expected." 



Sp. 1. Euchlora viridis, Fabricius. 



Long. lin. 12 ; Lat. lin. 7. 



E. glabra) punctata, supra viridis nitens subtus cupreo-aurata, 



pedibus cupreis. Sternum hand porrectum. 

 Vide Oliv. Mel. Tab. 9. fig. 2P. 

 Hab. in China. 



Varietas E. elytris cupreo-marginatis, corpore supra cenco mar- 

 ginato, antennisque piceis. 



