104 



Sharp (with some slight alterations). The parts are as 

 follows : — 



a. Medisternum (in the 

 subfamily the coxae are so 

 large that for all practical 

 purposes this may be re- 

 garded as an intercoxal pro- 

 cess), h. Episternum. c. 

 Epimeron. d. Coxal cavity. 

 €. Inflexed side of pronotum. 

 But as in the subfamily Rhyparida dimidiata. 



there is a sharply-defined 



border between the upper- and lower-surfaces of the prothorax, 

 I prefer to call this the flank of the prosternum.(7) 



It is, therefore, part h to which so much importance is 

 attached. Baly (8) referred to this as the ''antero-lateral pro- 

 cess (or plate) of the ante-pectus," and he puts beyond all 

 question the part he so named by giving six figures on plate i., 

 in which at h this part is specially indicated. He also stated 

 that "this process varies much in shape, and might often, I 

 think, be made available in determining the limits of the 

 genera in this difficult group of insects." 



Subsequently ^9) he refers to it as "the anterior episternum. 

 This part was formerly named by me the antero-lateral process 

 of the ante-pectus." And apparently he then attached much 

 less importance to it than at first. 



Chapuis, however, attached primary importance to it, and 

 founded the main divisions of the subfamily upon its front 

 edge being convex or concave. ^^o) In this he was followed by 

 Lefevre.^ii' They were, no doubt, deceived as to its import- 

 ance by the examination of but few species of even the larger 

 genera ; as where large series of species are available it is quite 

 evident that its front edge is variable. The lower-surface of 

 each side of the head immediately in front of the process and 

 behind the eye usually has a transverse or oblique elevation, 

 frequently hairy, and often concealed unless the head is quite 

 free from the body. When the head is resting on the breast 

 (the normal condition of unset specimens) the episternum and 



(7) Although seldom of generic use its punctures and striae are 

 frequently^ of use in distinguishing allied species, but some 

 manipulation of the front legs is usually necessary to see these 

 clearly. 



(8) Jour, of Ent., i., p. 25. 

 (9)L.c., ii., p. 144. 



(10) Gen. Coleopt., x., 1874. 



(11) Eumolpidarum Catalogus, 1885. 



