INSECTA MADERENSIA. 45 



enclosed. The var. (5. is somewhat scarcer than the ordinary state, and confined 

 more exchisively to the higher altitudes. 



Genus 15. OMASEUS. (Tab. I. fig. 9.) 



(Ziegler) Steph. III. Brit. Ent. i. 112 (1828). 



Corpus mediocre, plus minusve elongato-oblongum, ssepius convexiusculum : prothorace subcordato : alls 

 modo (ut in speciebus Maderensibus) amplis, modo obsolctis. Anlennie filiformes, capitis pro- 

 thoracisque longitudine, articulis primo et tertio reliquis longioribus subsequalibvis (illo robus- 

 tiorc), secundo brevi. Lahrum trausverso-quadi-atum, antice vix emarginatum et setis jjaucis 

 longissimis instructum. Mandibula incui-vge acutse, intus basi denticulatse. Maxilla bilobae : 

 loho externo palpiformi biarticulato : interno acuto incurvo, apice miclnato, intus valde ciliato. 

 Palpi filiformes, articulo ultimo truncato, in maxillaribus breviusculo, in lahialibus elongato. 

 Mentum transversum, autice jirofunde emarginatimi et dente medio brevi bifido instructum. 

 Ligula cornea, apice truncata ; paruglossis membranaceis liberis, earn paulo superautibus. Pedes 

 robusti : tarsis anticis in maribus articulis primo, secundo et tertio dilatatis, cordatis et subtus 

 biseriato-setosis : unguiculis simplicibus. 



Although, as above stated, the present genus and the last cannot strictly be 

 looked upon as distinct, since in their oral organs they differ in no essential respect, 

 and even externally merge into each other by gradations almost imperceptible ; 

 yet their normal aspects are so dissimilar, that I have preferred, since none of the 

 Madeiran species are aberrant, treating them here as separate. And indeed, when 

 thus viewed, detached from the intermediate connecting links, they are so readily 

 identified, and possess so few outward points in common, that they would seem in 

 reality to be altogether isolated groups. The large elongated outline and the deep 

 black colour of Oniaseus proper contrast sufiiciently with the shorter, comparatively 

 broader, more quadrate, and depi'essed body, and the piceous hue of Aryiitor, as 

 represented in these islands, to render the chance of confounding them inter se 

 utterly impossible. 



32. Omaseus nigerrimus. 

 O. elongatus ater subuitidus convexiusculus, prothorace subquadrato basi utrinque foveolato, elytris 



apice rotundatis profunde subpunctato-striatis singulo punctis tribus magnis valde distinctis 



impresso, pedibus elongatis robustis. 

 Long. Corp. liu. 7. 



Feronia nifferrima, Dej. Spec, des Col. m. 291 (1828). 

 Pterostiehus simplieipunctatus, Kollar, in litf. 



Habitat sub lapidibus in locis humidis Maderae australis, rarissimus : exemplar unicum, prope Funchal, 

 egomet tantum deprehcnsi, sed alteram a cl. Dom. Heiuecken M.D. olini captum in mnseo 

 Loweano vidi ; necnon tertium, ad Eibeiro de Joao Gomez lectum, nuperrime communicavit 

 Dom. Rousset. 



O. elongate, deep black, sligbtly shining, and a little convex. Head large, elongate, irnpuuctate, and 



