14 INSECTA MADERENSIA. 



Foem. paulo magis depressus, interduni subopacus ; tibiis posterioribus simplicibus. 

 Var. /3. paulo angustior coiivexiusculus, prothorace subelongato, elytris apice minus truncatis. 

 Long. coij). lin. 3|-4|. 



Habitat in convallibus declivibusque Maderse humidiusculis, praesertim sub lapidibus truncisque arbo- 

 runi ])rojectis, tempore vernali frequens. 



A. oblong-ovate, narrowei' tban the last species, and less robust, piceous, or dai'k piceous, and some- 

 times with a just perceptible aeneous tinge. Prothorax subquadrate, not quite so broad behind 

 as that of the last si)ccies, and more narrowed anteriorly ; \\\t\\ a slight dorsal channel, and with 

 an iuipunctate fovea on either side at the base, — about which however a few exceedingly obscure 

 and irregular punctures are souiutimes evident. Elytra ovate, in most instances broadest a little 

 behind the extreme base, and rather more truncated at the apex than those of the A. diluticullis, 

 where they are usually also (especially in the case of the females) a little excavated ; finely 

 striated, the striaj impunetate, and the interstices sometimes rather convex (and, although tlatter 

 in the females than in the males, never so much depressed as those of the A. dilaticol/is) ; with 

 two distinctly impressed points in the same positions as those of the other species. Antenna-, 

 palpi and k(/s rufo-piceous ; the las-f slenderer than those of the A. diliiticollis. 

 Male, shining; with the intermediate tibice slightly curved, a little dilated at, but most obscurely 

 distorted a little before, the apex ; and with the hinder ones also slightly cm-ved, and a little 

 dilated, though not distorted, at tlieir apex. 

 Female, a little more depressed, and sometimes (though not always) slightly opake ; the elytra rather 

 more distinctly excavated at their a])ex, and with the interstices a little tlatter; with the four 

 hinder tibia simple. 

 Var. /3. a little narrower and darker, without any indication of the obscure aeneous tinge which is 

 just perceptible in most of the other specimens. Prothorax slightly longer. Elytra more oval 

 and narrow, the widest jiart being about the middle, instead of immediately behind the front 

 margin ; and less truncated behind. Both sexes equally shining, and their intermediate tibise 

 less pilose internally. 



Notmthstandiny the uiKloubted specific clilTereuce between the present insect 

 and the last, as proved not only by the very dissimilar structure of theu- male 

 tibite, but also by the well-defined aspects of their respective normal forms, their 

 females, as already stated, are apt occasionally to become difficult to sepai'ate, 

 ()\\ing to the near approximation in size and outline of some of their extreme 

 aberrant specimens. As regards these female varieties, they have been ali*eady 

 discussed ; and it will l)e sufficient therefore to remark here, that the A. curtns, 

 tjqiically, may be at once recognised from that species by its smaller size, narrower 

 and less depressed form, by its usually somewhat apically-truncated or excavated 

 elytra, and by its slenderer legs. It is \A"idely distributed over the mountain regions 

 of Madeira, and in the moist dense ra'STJies of a high elevation, although nowhere 

 very abundant. Towards the upper extremity of the liil)eu'o de Santa Luzia, 

 diu'in^ the early spring, I have found it more commonly perhaps than in any 

 other locality, — principally amongst the loose stones and grass at the immediate 

 base of the lofty perpendicular rocks by which that iiarro\\- gorge is laterally 



