100 INSECTA MADERENSIA. 



Cyclonotum and Cercyon, since it combines the subaquatic propensities of the one 

 ^vith the stercoraceous tendency of the other ; and hence it is extremely inter- 

 esting to find an intermediate state of mandible corresponding, as it were, to its 

 double nature, — for the tooth which, in the former case, by being placed at the 

 extremity causes the mandibles to be cleft, and by being removed altogether, in 

 the latter, to be unarmed, being situated so far fi'om the termination in JDactylo- 

 stermim as to indicate, almost of itself, a tj^oe of form midway between the ex- 

 tremes. The general aspect of the insect under consideration is that of an enormous 

 Ccrcyon ; nevertheless, although coinciding Tvdth that genus (as ah-eady stated) in 

 the detads of its antennae, and in its punctate-striated elji:ra, — it wants, not merely 

 the edentate mandibles, but Hkewise the entu-e upper lip, the semicircular mentum, 

 and the simple meso-, and the keeled meta-sterna, the most essential featiu-es of 

 that group. 



It will be perceived, by a reference to the plate, that the anterior metasternal 

 appendage of oiu- present genus is of a very singular kind ; since it not only differs 

 from that Avhich exists in Cyclonotum, but from every other corresponding process 

 with which I am acquainted. 



78. Dactylosternum Roussetii, WoU. (Tab. III. fig. l.) 



D. oblongum subdeprcssum nitidum nigrum, miuutissime et creberrime punctulatutn, elytris pro- 

 funde (prsesertim postice) punctato-striatis, antennis pallido-testaceis clava infuscata, palpis 

 pedibusque rufo-piceis, tarsis prsesertim anticis pallidioribus. 



Long. Corp. lin. 2^. 



Habitat Maderam australem, mihi non obvium: exemplar unicum, a Rev''° Dom° Lowe munifice 

 donatum, fere ad hoc tempus solum possedi; sed plui-ima specimina sub lapidibus crastaceisque 

 vacuis niariiiis in liumidis per Oram Funclialensem maritimam, sed prresertim ad stagna circa 

 stabula suilla, nupcrrimc detcxit Dom. Rousset, insectorum jMaderensium scrutator, cujus in 

 honorem speciem stabilivi. 



D. oblong, and a little depressed, black, and shining ; most closely and delicately punctulated all 

 over. Prothorax sometimes narrowly and very indistinctly piceous at the extreme edge of its 

 front emargination. Scutellum large and triangular. Elytra deeply punctate-striated, especially 

 behind. Antennae at base pale testaceous, their chtb infuscatcd. Palpi and legs rufo-piceous ; 

 the tarsi (particularly the two front ones) being a little paler. 



The present insect is one which altogether escaped my own observations in the 

 Madeira Islands. i\jid indeed untU witliin the last few months but a single 

 example had come beneath my notice, captm-ed many years ago by the late 

 Dr. Ileinecken, from whose collection it was presented to me by the Rev. 11. T. 

 Lowe. It is therefore Avith great pleasiu-e that I have just received a large series 

 from M. Rousset, collected in moist spots on the beach near Funchal, — especially 

 (as he informs me) in the em})ty shells of crabs, and other marine Crustacea, 



