110 The Rev. F. W. Hope's Monograph 



of the insect as well as the presence of a presternum : for a moment 

 it may be worth while to look to the use of this latter member. It 

 is probable that this attachment may serve to counteract the weight 

 of the body, which is posteriorly much dilated ; or else, why in the 

 allied genus Euchlora is this posterior dilatation wanting as well as 

 the prosternum ? In some Adephaga we find it strongly developed, 

 particularly in Procrustes and the larger Carabidce ; and in several 

 genera, where the abdomen is large in proportion to the thorax, we 

 find the prosternum of a large size, particularly in Dynastid<£, and 

 also in Chiasognathus Grantii and Prionus Huyesii. It would seem, 

 however, that this is not always a sufficient support to counteract 

 the weight of the body, or why do we find those hooks on the an- 

 tennae which suj^port the latter insects when at rest ? It is pro- 

 bable also that the prosternum is of great use to all insects which 

 are climbers, as we find it developed in Calosoma, Hydrous, &c. ; and, 

 I think, in proportion as the mesosternum increases in size, there is 

 less need of a prosternum, as in CetoniadcB it altogether takes its 

 place, and serves probably the same purpose. From an examination 

 of the BuprestidfE we may partly arrive at the use intended by this 

 member ; in the first section, viz. the exscutellati, containing the ge- 

 nus Sternocera, an example of which is S. Chrysis, Fab., the me- 

 sosternum is remarkably strong, j^^rojecting between the fore-arms : 

 in this instance the anterior part of the insect is greatly dilated, 

 while towards the apex it is greatly diminished, tapering off almost 

 to a point. In Catoxantha bicolor. Fab., we find nearly the reverse 

 of this ; the posterior part of the body is greatly dilated, and instead 

 of the development of the mesosternum, we find only that of the 

 prosternum, which descends deeply into the breast. In the Indian 

 RutelidcB this posterior dilation of the body is not always attended 

 with a prosternum, as an insect subsequently described under the 

 name of Aprosterna, closely allied to Mimela (as well as the genus 

 Rhombo7iyx, Kirby,) both of which are without a prosternum. In 

 my forthcoming monograph of Euchlora this subject, however, will 

 be more fully detailed. At present it is time to say a few words on 

 the geographical distribution of this genus. 



Mimela appears widely dispersed over the continent of Asia, and 

 eventually it will no doubt be discovered wherever Euchlora is found. 

 I have not yet been able to ascertain its occurrence in Sumatra, 

 Borneo, or Manilla, or even in New Guinea or the Isle of Timor ; 

 and as the entomological character of the above countries apjDears to 

 resemble that of continental India, I have little hesitation in saying, 

 that we may ultimately expect several species from those quarters, 

 possessing as I do several species of Euchlora from the above places. 



