48 INSECTA MADERENSIA. 



Harpalus trivialis, Gyll. (nee Duft.) Ins. Snec. ii. 140 (1810). 

 Amara trivialis, Dej. Spec, des Col. iii. 4G4 (1828). 



, Erich. Kqf. der Mark Brand, i. 87 (1837). 



, Heer, Fna Col. Heh. 94 (1841). 



Habitat ad vias vel sub lapidibus Maderse Portusque Sancti, usque ad 4000* s. m., hinc indc non 

 infrequens. 



A. somewhat parallel-oval, slightly depressed, very shining, and seneous. Head rather narrow. Pro- 

 thorax narrowed in front, with the posterior angles acute and somewhat produced, concolorous ; 

 obscurely channelled down the centre ; impunctate, mth a narrow distinct fovea, or impressed 

 line, on either side at the base, and sometimes a very obscure smaller one towards the hinder 

 angles. Elytra finely striated, the striae being most minutely and almost imperceptibly punc- 

 tured. Antenna vdth the first' three joints and the base of the fourth bright rufo-ferruginous. 

 Tihia dull rufo-piceous. Femora, tarsi and apex of antenna nearly black. 

 rVw. /3. with the upper surface adorned with more or less of a dark bluish, or gi'cenish metallic 

 splendour. 



The size, form, colour and sculptiu'e at once clistinguish tliis common Eiu-opean 

 Amara from the following one. It is a species of very Avide geographical range, 

 occurring in all parts of Europe, and in Algeria ; and it has been likewise recorded 

 from Si1)cria and North America. It is hj no means an al)undant insect in 

 Madeira, although distributed sparingly over the island fi'om the gardens of 

 Funchal up to the mountain slopes of the Great Curral. At the Ribeu'o Frio I 

 have found it, during the winter and spring, in comjiarative profusion, — especially 

 crawling across the road diu'ing the gleams of sunshine, after rain. In Porto 

 Santo I have likewise captured it, though somewhat rarely. 



35. Amara superaus, Woll. 



A. oljlongo-ovalis lata picea, prothorace antice latiusculo angulis posticis subobtusis, basi punctate 



utrinque bifoveolato, elytris striatis, antennis pedibusque rufo-ferrugineis. 

 Long. Corp. lin. 4. 



Habitat sub lapidibus in montibus superioribus Maderae, ultra 5000' s. m., tempore hiberno et vernali, 

 rarissime : Amara valde indigena, ct propc summum montem Pico dos Arieros dictum mensibus 

 Januario ct Februario a.d. 1819 a mcipso detecta. 



A. oblong-ovate, broad, slightly depressed, shining, and piceous. Head rather wide. Prothorax 

 somewhat broader in front than behind, with the ])osterior angles slightly obtuse, and the 

 extreme lateral margin a little rufesccut ; obscurely channelled down the centre ; coarsely and 

 deejily punctured behind, and with two distinct fovea; on either side at the base, the inner ones of 

 which are the largest. Ehjtra faintly striated, the striae being impunctate. Legs and antenna 

 uniformly pale rufo-ferruginous. 



A large and truly indigenous Amara, and apparently extremely rare, the only 

 spot in which I have hitherto observed it being the exposed alpine ridge, over- 



