iNTivonrcTiox. 25 



oF structure, these two groups are similar in tl)eir mode of life 

 and in their distribution. All those of which we have any know- 

 ledge are root-feeders during their larval life and leat-feeders 

 when adult. The two groups occur side by side in great abun- 

 dance of individuals and species throughout Africa, Asia, and the 

 islands of the Pacific, but without i-eaching Australia (leaving out 

 of account two or three ubiquitous species which have un- 

 doubtedly been transported by artificial means). Both groups 

 are absent also from the Pacific slope of iSouth America; but, 

 while the Adoretini are completely unrepresented on the 

 American continent, the ANOMALi^fi are fairly numerous in its 

 warmer regions. It is probable that the single genus Anoinala, 

 perhaps because a recently-evolved one and not yet split up into 

 any natural and vvell-deliued subdivisions, outnumbers in species 

 all the other liuTELiN.E. 



The Adoketixi are rather small, brownish, pale or dull-coloured 

 insects of nocturnal habits, and frequently enter houses in the 

 evening attracted by light. 



The Anomalini also include many inconspicuous forms with 

 similar habits, but in the Oriental Eegion these are outnumbered 

 by brightly-coloured diurnal species — some of them amongst the 

 most brilliantly decorated of all known insects. A^ivid green and 

 golden hues are very prevalent amongst them. 



In these two arboreal groups the legs and feet are formed for 

 clinging to the leaves and twigs amongst which the insects live, 

 and the mouth for a diet of leaves. Although so much alike in 

 their mode of life and in many points of structure, the Anomalini 

 and AnoHETiNi are sharply divided by their method of feeding. 

 In the first the labrum and labium form a pair of horizontal lips 

 between which the jaw s work, each pair co-adapted for grasping 

 and dividing the food like a pair of scissors. In the second group 

 the labrum is produced downwards across the mouth-opening, 

 which is more or less completely divided into a right and left half. 

 Although in the great majority of the species this bisection of the 

 mouth is complete, there are several small genera in which it is 

 in varying degrees imperfect, and in such forms as Frodoretus and 

 O.vi/adorehis there is an obvious approximation to the Anomalini. 

 According to the system of classification hitherto adopted — that 

 devised more than half a centuiy ago, when comparati\ely few 

 forms had become available for study, by the two highly competent 

 entomologists, Burmeister and Lacordaire — these two gro\ips have 

 been put at opposite ends of the subfamily and separated by the 

 large, mainly American, group of the true Euteliisi, of which 

 the Pakastasiini of this volume form a small part. I have 

 ventured to depart from this system, and to put the latter group, 

 which is undoubted l}-^ the one with the nearest relationship to the 

 Dynastin^ (omitting the aberrant genus Pelto^iotiis), at the 

 begiiniing of the subfamil}', thus bringing near together the 

 Akomalini and Adoretini. As a connecting-link between 

 these stands the new tribe AuoRuniNYPXiiNi, which I have 



