CHAP. XI.] THE ETHiOPTAN REGION. 2o7 



sist of single species. Tlie other three genera, Claclognathus, 

 JVigidiics, and Figuhcs, are the raost characteristic, though all 

 have a tolerably wide range in the Old AVorld. 



In the elegant Cetoniidse, or rose-chafers, this region stands 

 preeminent, possessing 76 genera, 64 of which are peculiar to 

 it. The others are chiefly Oriental, except Oxythrcea which is 

 European, and Stethodesma which is Xeotropical. Preeminent 

 in size and beauty is Goliatkus, comprising perhaps the most 

 bulky of all highly-coloured beetles. Other large and char- 

 acteristic genera are Ceratorhina, IscJmostoma, Anochilia, 

 Biplognatha, Agcniiis, and many others of less extent. 



In the enormous tribe of Longicorns, or long-horned beetles, 

 the Ethiopian is not so rich as the other three tropical regions ; 

 but this may be, in great part, owing to its more producti^•e 

 districts having never been explored by any competent entomo- 

 logists. It nevertheless possesses 262 genera, 216 of which are 

 peculiar, the others being mostly groups of very wide range. 

 Out of such a large number it is difficult to select a few as most 

 characteristic, but some of the peculiarities of distribution as 

 regards other regions may be named. Among Prionidse, Tithoes 

 is a characteristic Ethiopian genus. A few species of the 

 American genera Pai'andra and Mallodon occur here, while the 

 North Temperate genus Prionus is only found in ^Madagascar. 

 Among Ceramb} ciilse, Promeccs is the most characteristic. The 

 American genera Oerne and Cyrtomerus occur; while Homalach- 

 nus and Philagathes are Malayan, and Lejytocera occurs only in 

 Madagascar, Ceylon, Austro-Malaya, and Australia. The Lamiidae 

 are very fine; Sternotomis, Tragocephala, Cerojjksis, Phryneta, 

 Vohimnia, and Nitocris, being very abundant and characteristic. 

 Most of the non-peculiar genera of this family are Oriental, 

 but Spalacoiisis and Acanthodcrcs are American, while Tetragloifs 

 and Schcenionta have been found only in East and South Africa 

 and in Malaya. 



Terrestrial Mollusca — In the extensive family of the Ilelicidte 

 or snails, 13 genera are represented, only one of which, 

 Columna, is peculiar. This region is however the metropolis of 

 Achatina, some of the species being the largest land-shells 



