128 INSECTA MADERENSIA. 



observation, fi'om the Canary Islands, where it was discovered by the Rev. AV. J. 

 Armitage in Teneriffe, 



105. Xenostrongylus histrio, WoU. (Tab. II. fig. 8.) 



X. rotimdato-ovatus convexus piceiis, pube ciuerca, fidva et nigra robusta depressa Isete fasciato- 



variegatus, antennis pedibusque testaceis. 

 Long. corp. lin. 1. 



Habitat insulas Maderenscs, pra;sertini inter lichenes in rupium fissuris crescentes, hinc inde vul- 

 garis: in Portu Sancto necnon in Deserta Grandi abundat; sed etiam in hortis culinaribus 

 vinetisque Maderfe australis, vix ab urbe Funchalensi remotis, super folia plantarum tempore 

 vernali interdum legatur. 



X. roundish-ovate, convex, piceous, finely punctulated (but not punctate-striated), and densely 

 clothed with a long, exceedingly robust and decumbent pile, — which on the under side of the 

 insect is uniformly cinereous ; but above cinereous, fulvous, aud black, intermixed, and occasionally 

 with a slight addition of golden-brown, which gives the entire upper surface a beautifully varie- 

 gated and histrionic appearance. Prothorax and elytra ornameutcd with more or less confluent 

 patches and broken fascia; ; which on the former are arranged principally on the hinder j)ortion, 

 and have their concavities turned towards and resting upon the base ; whilst on the latter it is 

 their main tendency to shape-out a large arcuated postmedial one, parallel to the curvature of 

 the margin and enclosing a darker central portion behind the scutellum (which is, itself, however, 

 always clothed with pale pubescence). The pubescence of this large arcuated fascia (which is 

 often a good deal broken and interrupted) is normally, like the scutellum, composed of pale 

 cinereous hau-s ; and there are usually indications of a smaller transverse zigzag band (of the 

 same colour) between it and the apex. The space between these two fascia;, as also an ob- 

 scure subsidiai-y ill-defined arch in fi-ont of the disk {i. e. in the dark space behind the 

 scutellum), with the pubescence, tj-pically, of a fulvous or golden-brown tinge : — but, although 

 these are the positions and tints of the fasciae and patches in well-developed and brilliant speci- 

 mens, the whole arc often so much obscured and shaded-off into each other as to be but indi- 

 stinctly defined ; in all instances however the large and comparatively dark portion of the elytra 

 behind the scutellum is at once apparent. Antenna and legs testaceous; the former with their 

 club generally a little dusky. 



One of the most elegant of the Madeiran Coleoptera, the interrupted, arcuated 

 fascial, and broken patches, of variously coloured pubescence, with which its upper 

 surface is densely crowded, giving it, at first sight, an almost histrionic appear- 

 ance. It occurs throughout most of the islands of the group, and in certain 

 positions in the greatest abundance. Tjiucally, it is an inliabitant of lichen 



apparently almost black. The pubescence likewise of an altogether darker nature, and neither quite 

 so robust nor so completely depressed, — a larger portion of it being black ; with distinct indications, 

 nevertheless, of a paler, variegated, arched subapical fascia on the el^-tra. Anteiime and Irys darker 

 than those of the JT. histrio ; the former having their club considerably infuscated. 



As already mentioned, it was detected by the 'Rev. AV. J. .irmitage in Teneriffe ; but the circumstances 

 of its capture I have not been able to ascertain. 



