Mr. T. V. Wollaston on two new Plinthi. 19 



have not thought it worth while to destroy one of the examples 

 of the P. velutinus in order to satisfy myself of a similar subanal 

 contrivance in that species also. There can be no doubt, how- 

 ever, that it would stridulate; though, judging from its less 

 constricted or attenuated elytral apex, I should imagine that its 

 notes would probably be less audible than those of its ally. 

 Both the P. musicus and velutinus have strongly carinated pro- 

 thoraces, and their femora have a powerful tooth beneath. 



Plinthus velutinus, n. sp. 



P. squamis atris densissime tectus, sed vix setulosus ; rostro ad basin 

 (ante oculos) sat fortiter rotundato-ampliato ; prothorace insequali, 

 carinato, sed vix punctato ; elytris ante apicem minus lateraliter 

 constrictis, apice ipso integro, squamis albidioribus ad humeros 

 ipsos, necnon aliis punetum minutum discalem et maculam vix 

 majorem transversam postmediam efficientibus (omnibus plus 

 minus obsoletis), ornatis, leviter striato-punctatis, interstitiis al ter- 

 ms obsolete elevatis ; femoribus dentatis. 



Long. corp. lin. 6-6^. 



Habitat Teneriffam, in iisdem locis ac praecedens, sed illo multo 

 rarior. 



Nearly resembling the P. musicus; nevertheless its much 

 darker surface and almost total freedom from additional decum- 

 bent setae, as well as its nearly obsolete elytral patches (which, 

 when not obliterated, are reduced to four small punctures, or 

 spots), in conjunction with its slightly shorter and broader ros- 

 trum (which is rather more distinctly widened at the base, im- 

 mediately in front of the eyes), its nearly unpunctured prothorax, 

 and the entire and less laterally constricted apex of its more 

 feebly sculptured elytra, will readily distinguish it from that 

 species. It is very much rarer than the P. musicus, occurring 

 beneath stones in the moist woods of a lofty elevation; and 

 although both species ascend to an altitude of at least 7000 feet 

 above the sea, the P. velutinus would seem to inhabit principally 

 the upper portion of that range, attaining its maximum, perhaps, 

 at about the height of 6000 feet. Most of the specimens of it, 

 however, which I have as yet secured were captured amongst 

 the Retamas of the Cumbre, above the Agua Mansa; whereas 

 the P. musicus is found, not only in that upland tract, but also 

 at the Agua Mansa itself, and likewise in the sylvan districts of 

 the Agua Garcia and towards Point Anaga, in the latter of which 

 it is tolerably common at Las Mecedes (beyond Laguna) and 

 above Taganana — making its appearance at an altitude of about 

 2000 feet. 



2* 



