7G INSECTA MADERENSIA. 



obtusis, elytris leviter punctato-striatisj singulo punctis duobus impresso, antenaarum basi pedi- 

 busque ferrugineis. 

 Long. Corp. lin. l^^-lf . 



JBembidium obtusum, Sturm, Deutsch. Fna, vi. 165 (1825). 

 TacJii/s obfusiis, Steph. HI. Brit. Ent. ii. 6 (1829). 

 Bembidium obtusum, Dej. Sj^ec. des Col. v. 177 (1831). 

 , Heer, Fna Col. Helv. 136 (1841). 



Habitat insulas Maderenses, sub lapidibus vel ad vias, Line inde ab orS, maritima usque ad summos 

 montes ascendens : in graminosis Portus Sancti abundat ; neenon in ins. Ueserta Grandi, qua 

 speeimina amplitudine acerescunt. 



B, elongate-oblong, shining, black, and with a just perceptibly greenish, or piceous tinge. Prothorax 

 large, subquadrate, the sides and posterior angles being somewhat rounded; with a dorsal 

 channel ; and an impression on either side at the base. Elytra somewhat parallel ; finely punc- 

 tate-striated, the striffi being evanescent towards the margin ; and with two minutely impressed 

 points on the disk of each near the third stria from the sutm-e. Antenna at base, and legs ferru- 

 ginous ; the former darkly infuscate towards their apex. 



The B. obtusum, so universal throughout Europe and the north of Africa, occurs 

 in most of the islands of the Madeii-an group, though not very abundantly in any 

 of them. It is found at all altitudes, but is commoner in low, or but slightly 

 elevated localities than in the higher regions, existing beneath stones in grassy 

 spots, and occasionally to be seen, especially on the wing, even in the gardens of 

 Funchal. On the cliffs to the eastward. of the town, towards the Cabo Gerajao, I 

 have taken it constantly, during the autumnal months ; as also, late in the spring, 

 at Santa Anna,; and, during July, in the lofty district of the Fanal, — upwards of 

 5000 feet above the sea. It has been likewise captui'ed by Professor Heer at the 

 Campan.'irio and on the Pico da Cruz. On the mountain slopes of Porto Santo it 

 is by no means rare ; and I possess a tolerably extensive series from the Dezcrta 

 Grande, obtained, during my encampment there with the Rev. E. T. Lowe, in 

 May 1850, and ranging somewhat above the average in point of size. On oil the 

 islands indeed the insect attains a larger stattire than it does in more northern 

 countries, and presents other differences likewise, which it is evident however are 

 merely geograpliieal ones. Thus, it is not only longer than the ordinary i\])c but 

 projiortionably more parallel, the hinder angles of its prothorax are a little more 

 rounded and less thickened, its elytral striae are much less deeply impressed, and 

 its entire surface is more brilliantly polished. It is in fact the particular state 

 which appears to obtain, more or less CAridently, tlu'oughout the greater portion of 

 southern Eru'ope, — and is, consequently, the result of latitude rather than of 

 isolation. I am informed by my friend Dr. H. Schaum of Berlin that he has 

 observed precisely the same variety at Nice, as the Madeii-an one, where it is 

 extremely abundant. 



