148 INSECTA MADERENSIA. 



crasso, secundo huic longitudine subjequali at multo graciliore subcylindrico, tertio breriore, iude 

 ad nonum latitudine vLx crescentibus longitudine sub;equalibus, reliquis capitulum magnum 

 abraptuni ovale solidissimum obscure biarticulatum efficientibus. Labrum (IX. 9 b) amplum 

 membranaceum pilosum, antice bilobum, marginibus membraneo-tenuissimis. Mandibula 

 (IX. 9 c) inagnse validae elongatse cornese, basi lata;, apice bidentatse, inde ad medium sinuatse et 

 membrana auctae. Maxilla (IX. 9 d) bilobae membranacese : lobo externa elongatissimo gracili 

 recto, apice leviter pubescenti : intenio breviore gracillimo recto, apieem versus ciliato. Palpi 

 maxillares articulo primo longiusculo flexuoso, secundo crassiore jiaulo breviore, tertio maximo 

 inflato subovato, ultimo primi longitudine sed recto aciculari : luhiales (IX. 9 e) articulo primo 

 flexuoso, secundo maximo inflato subovato, ultimo primi longitudine sed recto aciculari. Mctitum 

 elongato-subquadratum, antice acuminatum, lateribus ante basin constrictis. Ligula apice bifida, 

 lobis latis membraneo-tenuissimis aucta. Pedes sat validi : libiis (pra?sertim anticis) subflexuosis 

 apieem versus dilatatis vix calcaratis : tarsis (IX. 9/) 4-articulatis pilosis, articulo primo levater 

 elongato, secundo et tertio brevioribus iBqualibus, ultimo longissimo subclavato unguiculis sim- 

 lilicibus munito. 

 A ttXoIov navis, et auifia corpus. 



The little insect on which I have erected the present genus is perhaps one of the 

 most truly indigenous of all the Madeiran Coleoptera. After a careful considera- 

 tion of its habits, and of the ditferent points of its structure, I have not the 

 sliglitcst doubt l)ut that it is correctly placed amongst the Colydiadcc, with which, 

 in its four-jointed tarsi, bidentate mandibles, and its biarticulate antenual club 

 (the essential characteristics of that family) it entu*ely coincides. It is in fact 

 closely allied to Cerylon, not only in its general habit {Floeosoma being not merely 

 subcortical, but also, like that genus, found in the very centre of moist decaying 

 Avood) and glabrous surfiice, but more especially in the elongated, narrow lobes of 

 its maxiUa!, quadriarticulate feet, in the shape of its mentum, in the extremely 

 solid club of its antennae, and iu the largely inflated penidtimate, and aciculated 

 ultimate, joii^ts both of its labial and maxillary ijaliii. Still, in spite of this 

 evident approach to Cerylou, it is not possible that it can be actually associated 

 with it, since in its deejily bilobed, membranous upper lip, in its slightly cmwed, 

 unspurred tibial, in its obsolete wings, as well as in its elliptical form, and in its 

 comparatively impunctate surface it recedes from that genus entnely. It is certain 

 however that it should be placed near to it, since it evidently forms one of those 

 small attendant genera so often observed as offshoots from a central type, tlie 

 importance of which, when geographically considered, it is difficult to overrate. 



122. Ploeosoma ellipticum, Woll. (Tab. IX. fig. 9.) 

 P. ellipticum couvexum piceum Iscve nitiduui, prothoracc leviter puuctato, elytris vLx puuctatis apice 



rufeseentibus, antennis pcdibusque feiTugineis. 

 Long. Corp. lin. 1-1}. 



Habitat sub cortice, in ligno putrido, vel sub truncis arborum marcidis in locis humidiusculis Maderse, 

 inter 2500' et 5000' s. m. toto anno non infrcqucns. 



