174 INSECTA MADERENSIA. 



secundo, tertio et quarto majoribus subsequalibus (quarto in posticis paulo minore), ultimo 

 elongate vix subclavato unguiculis simplicibus munito. 



Possessing but a single example of the minute insect whicli constitutes the 

 present genus, and being unwilling to sacrifice a unique specimen for dissection, I 

 have not examined the details of its mouth. Unfortunately, the characters given 

 by Motschvilsky in the Bulletin cle la Societe Imperiale de Moscou are, Ukewise, 

 merely external ones : nevertheless they include so many points of peculiarity 

 that there can Ijc but little fear of confounding Hijpocoprus with the members of 

 any of the neighbouring groups, — its diminutive bulk, and narrow, elongated 

 outline, in conjimction ^vith its pentamerous feet and the very singular conforma- 

 tion of its antennaj (which have theu- fifth joint considerably enlarged, — thus 

 calling to mind, as aptly remarked by Motschulsky, the little Pselaphideous 

 Tychi, — wliilst the one A\'hich precedes, and the three which follow it are small), 

 being abimdantly sufficient, when combiued, whereby at once to identify it. The 

 anomalous natiu'c of its wings does not appear to have been noticed by [Mot- 

 schulsky ; — a structure which in fact tends very considerably to confii'm his 

 opinion that Uypocoprns may perhaps constitute a passage between the Crypto- 

 phagidxB and the PtiUadce, theu' enormous dimensions and hau'-like appendages 

 making a very decided a])proach to those of the latter family. In addition to 

 thcii- unusual development, as regards size, the ^^ings of Uypocoprns are greatly 

 narrowed at theu- base, and then suddenly tlilated, — theu* entii-e lower edge being 

 strongly ciliated, mu.ch iu the same manner (although ia a less degree) as we 

 observe in the Ptiliudce. They are nearly free from nerves, and delicately punctu- 

 lated all over, — coinciding thus far ^"itli those of Ephistemus : whilst in some 

 respects they are identical with the modification which obtains in Paramccosoma, 

 — vdih. which genus indeed I am inclined to suspect that Uypocoprns has by no 

 means a distant afiinity. 



141. Hypocopnis Motschvdskii, Woll. 



H. angusto-elongatus fuscus subnitidus pubescens, capite prothoraceque crcben-ime et minutissime 

 granulatis punctisque obsoletissimis adspersis, hoc elongato-quadrato, elj'tris parallelis pro- 

 thorace vl\ latioribus, singulo stria suturali postica impresso, antennis pedibusque diluto-testaceis. 



Long. Corp. Hn. \. 



Habitat ins. Portus Sancti, rarissimus : in asccnsu montis Pico d'Anna Ferreira dicti, inter graminum 

 radices humi cursitaus, d. 21 Ap. a.d. 181-9 specimen unicum inveni. 



In honorem cl. Dom. jMotschulsky, Petropoli, nomen trinale dixi. 



H. elongated and narrow, dark brown, slightly shining, and pubescent. Head and prothorax closely 

 and minutely granulated all over, and with large (although exceedingly shallow and almost 

 obsolete) punctures intermixed : the former porrectcd and triangular, being almost as wide as 

 the prothorax in its widest part, which is immediately behind the eyes, — which are tolerably 



