54 INSECTA MADERENSIA. 



Var. y. latus dcpressus plerumque nigro-piceus ; mas subopacus, foemina opaca ; prothorace lato ad 

 basin minus attenuato, impunctato et utrinque vix foveolato ; elytris sfepius comiatis truucato- 

 subovatis leviter striatis, interstitiis depressis, antennis pedibusque diluto-fermgineis. Long. 

 4f-55- lin. (Portui Sancto insulisque parvis adjacentihus propria.) 

 Long. corp. lin. 4|-5J, 



Harpalics vividus, Dcj. (nee Fab. 18U1), Spec, des Col. iv. 332 (1829). 



Habitat sub lapidibus omnium insularum Maderensium, ab era maritima usque ad cacumina montium 

 copiosissime ascendens. 



H. oblong, of either a dark-, or a more or less brownish-piceous, occasionally (especially when imma- 

 ture) almost ferruginous, usually depressed ; the males more or less shining, the females gene- 

 rally, though not always, a little opake. Head rather large, with scarcely any indications of the 

 usual longitudinal impressions between the eyes. Prothorax more or less subquadrate, and 

 narrowed posteriorly ; also, in most of the varieties, more or less punctured towards the base, 

 and with a fovea on either side, — both the punctures and fovepe having a tendency in the several 

 states to become more and more obsolete ; generally with the extreme lateral margins obscurely 

 and narrowly rufescent. Elytra more or less ovate, and striated, the striae being impunctate ; a 

 little excavated behind, and each of them obliquely truncated off at its extreme apex, causing the 

 two to divaricate very minutely at the extremity of the suture ; and each of them with a most 

 minutely impressed point, on the third interstice, behind. Legs, antenna and palpi ferruginous. 



Var. a. comparatively narrow and rather convex, generally of a brownish-piceous hue ; the males 

 shining, the females a little opake. Prothorax narrow, and much attenuated behind, closely, 

 finely, and distinctly punctured towards the base, and with a deep fovea on either side. Elytra 

 not soldered together, subovate, and a little acuminated behind, deeply striated, and the inter- 

 stices rather convex. Legs, antenna and jmlpi \'ery pale ferruginous. {Madeira : the typical 

 state throughout the sylvan districts.) 



Var. (3. distinctly broader and more depressed, piceous, and sometimes with more or less of a ferru- 

 ginous hue ; both sexes shining, the males being very highly polished. Prothorax broader than 

 in var. a, and not quite so much attenuated behind, most obscurely punctured towards the base, 

 the punctures being almost evanescent, and the fovea; more obscure. Elytra generally soldered 

 together, a little broader and shorter, in proportion, than those of the var. a, and more truncated 

 both before and behind, less deeply striated, and the interstices flattened. Legs, antenna and 

 palpi fcrniginous. {Northern and Central Dezertas ; and more or less apphcable to the maritime 

 and alpine specimens of Madeira.) 



Var. y. of nearly the same form as the var. (3, but darker, being usually piceous-black, and de- 

 pressed ; both sexes opake, though especially the female. Prothorax broad and subquadrate, 

 being less attenuated behind than in cither of the other varieties, impunctate, and the basal foveae 

 almost obsolete. Elytra generally soldered together, broad and short, much truncated both be- 

 fore and behind, lightly striated, and the interstices flattened. Legs, antenna and palpi darker 

 than in the other varieties, being dusky-ferruginous. {Porto Santo, and the small adjacent 

 islands.) 



A truly indigenous species ; and since it is perhaps one of the most variable with 

 which we have here to do, it may be well selected as an example of the modifying 

 influence of isolation and local cii'cumstances on external insect form. "Whether 



