on the Getnis Mimela. Ill 



The most southern range known at present appears to be the island 

 of Java ; from Singapore it may be traced up to the Himalaya. On 

 the east its boundary is terminated probably by the Japan Isles, and 

 on the west by Madras. I am doubtful, however, if it can be traced 

 to Bombay, having repeatedly received numerous collections from 

 that country, but never a single specimen of Euchlora or Mimela. 

 According to Mr. Kirby, it is found also in the island of Ceylon. 

 China evidently appears to be its metropolis ; and judging fi-om the 

 immense numbers sent to this country, it must really there be quite 

 a pest. When to the Mimelce, emerging from the leafy coverts of the 

 wood, we add the swarms of Euchlora, and the hosts of booming 

 Beetles, the dazzling Lampyrida, or Fire Flies, with genera of va- 

 rious orders, the air must literally teem with the countless myriads 

 of insect population, offering to the sight a picture which the warm- 

 est European imagination has not the power to conceive. These 

 MimelcE have their use as well as all other insects, and the office 

 assigned them is probably to keep in check the over-luxuriance and 

 superfluity of tropical vegetation. 



Genus Mimela. 

 Type of the Genus, Mimela Chiitensis , Kirby. 



Section 1. With a Pi-osternum. {Mimela proprie sic dicta.) 



Patria. 

 Species 1 . Chinensis, Kirby China. 



2. Confucius, Hope Ditto. 



3. Blumei, De Haan Java. 



4. Lathami, Hope China. 



5. Lucida, De Haan Japan. 



6. Splendens, Hope Nepal. 



7. Auronitens, Hope Ditto. 



8. Horsfieldii, Hope Ditto. 



9. Leei, Swed. {fastuosa. Fab.) East Indies. 



10. Chrysoprasus, Hope 



11. Bicolor, Hope Nepal. 



12. Similis, Hope Ditto. 



Section 2. Without a Prosternum (Aprosterna) . 

 1 . Nigricans, Kirby China. 



1. Mimela Chinensis, Kirby. 

 M, supra luteo-virens ; capite thoraceque punctatis punctulatis- 

 simisque, antennis fulvis. 



