INSECTA MADERENSIA. 57 



in the tendency of its elytra to become united or soldered together. I say " the 

 tendency," because it is not always the case that they are joined (which, since the 

 law exists at all, is perhaps the more remarkable), although in most instances, 

 especially in localities much exposed and but slightly elevated above the sea-shore, 

 they are. I have examples, however, from the upper as well as the lower regions, 

 in which both states are represented; and others again in which the elytra are 

 only partially connected, being fi-ee at the apex though fii-mly attached towards 

 the scuteUum. In every instance, however, even where they are united through- 

 out theii- entire length, a little force will succeed in separating them, showing 

 their structure, as I have indicated in the diagnosis, to be subconnate rather than 

 connate. But that it does require force to effect the disjunction, when they are 

 reaUy in the condition described, is proved to a demonstration to any one who has 

 seen the remains of the insect beneath the slabs of stone on many of the small 

 adjacent islands where it most abounds, or drifting about over the surface of the 

 j^ocks, — under which circumstances I have observed them in immense numbers, 

 apparently the accumulation of two or three generations, which the violence of the 

 elements had not been able to sever. It is rare in the sylvan districts to find 

 them joined, nevertheless such is sometimes the case, — thus proving that the 

 peculiarity is not actually essential, but merely one which it is the tendency of the 

 species to assume, and which is more developed in some specimens, and under 

 certain conditions, than in others. 



The Carabus vividm of Pabricius, although in description best according with 

 the present insect, is proved, from specimens still in existence in the Royal Mu- 

 seum of Copenhagen, as already stated, to be a Calatlms. The Harpalus now 

 under consideration was in fact first described by Dejean, in 1829, who appears to 

 have mistaken it for the Tabrician C. cividus, and to have quoted it as such. 



Genus 19. OPHONXJS. 



(Ziegler) Stepb. lU. Brit. Ent. i. 159 (1828). 



Corjms et instrumenta ciharia fere ut in Harpalo, sed illud subtiliter pubescens et undique punctu- 

 latiim J necnon pedes plerumqiie paulo graciliores. 



There cannot be the slightest doubt but that the Ophoni do not in reality consti- 

 tute more than a section of Sarpalm, then* minutely pubescent and punctulated 

 bodies, added to their somewhat longer and less robust legs, being the sole cha- 

 racters on which their isolation was ever made to rest. And it was therefore well 

 remarked by Dejean, in his Species general des Colcopteres, that the genus, as 

 defined by Ziegler, was founded on an inadequate diagnosis and could not, conse- 

 quently, be upheld. Still, as it is not altogether expunged even by recent ento- 

 mologists, and since its only Madeiran representative is a peculiarly tjqncal member 

 of the group as formerly received, I have preferred retaining it in the present 



