IIALTICINiE. 



97 



the elytra; first segment large, thickened, second much smaller, 

 globular, third elongate, slightly longer than fourth, fifth also 

 slightly longer than fourth ; sixth somewhat shorter than either 

 the preceding or the following segmeut ; the rest of the segments 

 are almost equal, the last being pointed ; the whole antennae are 

 sparsely covered with fine hairs. Prothoracn broader than long, 

 narrowed at the base, whence the sides are gradually widened to 

 the anterior angles, which are rounded ; posterior angles more or 

 less acute; anterior and posterior margins almost straight; surface 

 uniformly convex from side to side and covered with strong punc- 

 tures, which are more thinly distributed on the middle than on 

 the lateral or basal parts. Scutellum small, insignificant, sharply 

 triangular, much broader than long. Elytra narrowed at the base, 

 broadened and uniformly rounded in the middle, narrowed behind; 

 surface convex and confusedly impressed with strong but small 

 punctures, which are not closely placed ; in some specimens the 

 surface is somewhat rugose. Underside punctate and sparsely 

 covered with fine hairs ; anterior coxal cavities almost closed. 

 First segment of the tarsi almost as broad as the third, which is 

 undivided longitudinally along the middle ; claw-segment strong, 

 projecting much beyond the third segment ; claws not split. 



In the females the abdomen projects beyond the apex of the 

 elytra. 



Length, 5-8 mm. 



Himalayas: Barphu, Gori Valley, 11,500ft. (H. G. Champion). 

 Type in the British Museum. Described from 22 examples. 



Subfamily HALTICINiE. 



The HALTiciNiE comprise a group of phytophagous Coleoptera 

 popularly called " flea-beetles " owing to their extraordinary 

 power of jumping*. They can be distinguished by the following 

 characters: (1) the insects are plant-feeders both in the larval 

 and adult stages; (2) in correlation with the jumping power of 

 the insect the femora of the hind legs are much thickened ; 

 this character varies to a certain extent, for in some genera the 

 thickened condition can hardly be said to be pronounced, but in 

 all cases the hind femora are thicker than those of the first two 

 pairs of legs ; (3) the antennae are always placed between the inner 

 margins of the eyes and never below their front or outer edges, 

 but between the limits of the inner margins the position of the 

 points of insertion of the antennae varies, so that they may either 



* It is hardly necessary to state that, though the flea-beetles and fleas both 

 possess this power, no close relationship between the two groups is thereby 

 indicated. Similar names for these beetles occur in at least one other 

 European language, namely German, in which they are known as "Erdilohe " 

 (earth-fleas) or "Elohkaf'er" (tlea-beetles). 



VOL. II. H 



