332 Mr. C. G. Lamb on Exotic Chloropitlje. 



Legs predominantly dullish orange, but the coxa, femur, 

 and tibia are somewhat extensively suffused (though not 

 truly black) except at the base and tip of tibia ; the last 

 tarsal joints of hind legs are also dark. 



Abdomen all shining black, with fairly long pale hairs, 

 especially at the sides and on the male hypopygium. 



Size just under 2 mm. 



S. India : Coimbatore. 



The next series of species belongs to some of the allied 

 Meroscinid genera, such as Meroscinis, Dactylothyrea, &c. 

 These form a fairly natural group, but show extreme variety 

 of structural detail ; nevertheless, they are readily recog- 

 nizable. The variety of scutellar structure is quite remark- 

 able, ranging from the simple form of M. tibiella up to the 

 extraordinary shapes found in Dactylothyrea and Epicelyphus. 

 The complex intermingling of various characters makes the 

 limitation of genera even more difficult than usual, and in 

 consequence some genera have within their present boundary 

 quite heterogeneous assemblages. The group will doubtless 

 be found to include a great number of species, as they are 

 often small and easily overlooked. When a proper amount 

 of material is obtained, it may be possible to arrive at a more 

 satisfactory generic allocation ; at present it is desirable, as 

 far as possible, to avoid increasing the number of genera. 



In such a study it will be necessary to pay much attention 

 to the punctation of the thoracic dorsum and the scutellum. 

 The former is generally smoother than the latter, which is 

 often rugose or shagreened in various ways, and the puncta- 

 tion of the two differs in amount and form. The thoracic 

 punctures differ in size and " pitch" or distance apart, and in 

 some cases are very remarkable. Thus, in the new genus 

 Lonchonotus it will be found that most of the punctures consist 

 of a complex of three tiny ones, forming an isosceles triangle 

 of long base. In Dactylothyrea similar punctures occur, but 

 to a less extent, and they are also visible in M. validissima. 

 The description of these characters is a matter of much diffi- 

 culty, as is their delineation, owing to the shininess of the 

 general surface ; but it will be necessary to pay much atten- 

 tion to the above points. In any case the relative degrees of 

 punctation of dorsum and scutellum can be noted if absolute 

 values are not attainable. 



