EPICOMETIS. 173 



Group 5. OxYTHYliEIDES. 



The species which compose this group are ahiiost all of small 

 size and even the largest do not exceed the medium size. The 

 most constant characteristic feature is the long, narrow, and very 

 acutely-pointed scutellum, the sides of which are gently concave. 

 The excision of the hind margin of the pronotum, which is 

 practically universal in the preceding group, is here quite ex- 

 ceptional and it is very commonly replaced by a projecting lobe, 

 partly or entirely concealing the scutellum. The clypeus is 

 always simply rounded or very gently emarginate in front, and 

 the sexes are not distinguished in any of the Indian species by 

 marked external differences. 



The group is best represented in Africa, and the genus Clinteria 

 is the only truly Oriental one. That genus was associated by 

 Lacordaire with Agestrata, etc., in his group Gtmnetides, while 

 Epicometis and Leucocelis were placed in the true Cetoniides, but 

 the multiplication of known species renders that arrangement 

 untenable. 



Table of the Genera. 



1 (4) Pronotum not lobed behind. 



2 (3) Scutellum moderately sharp-pointed, not 



flat , Epicometis, p, 173. 



3 (2) Scutellum extremely shai-p-pointed, quite 



flat OXYTHYREA, p. 175. 



4 (1) Pronotum lobed behind Clinteria, p. 176. 



Genus EPICOMETIS. 



Epicometis, Burm., Handb. Ent. iii, 1842, p. 434. 

 Tropiuota, Muls., Coleopt. France, Lamell. 1842, p. 575 (preoccupied 

 name). 



Type, Scarahaus hirtellus, L. (Europe). 



Range. Europe, N. Africa, W. Asia. 



Form rather short and robust, clothed above and below with 

 long hairs. Clypeus strongly and broadly notched in front, leaving 

 the angles sharp and a little reflexed. Mandible very small, with 

 the chitinous outer lobe triangular. Maxilla stout, terminating in 

 a single sharp tooth and a long tuft of hairs ; palpi slender. 

 Mentum dilated and strongly bilobed in front ; palpi short and 

 stout. Prothorax subcircular, gently excised in front of the 

 scutellum. Scutellum moderately broad in front, not very long, 

 acute at the apex. Elytra strongly sinuated at the sides, not 

 produced at the apical angles. Mesosternal process extremely 



