INSECTA MADERENSIA. 175 



large, and remote from the anterior margin of the prothorax : the latter elongate-quadrate, and 

 very slightly narrower than the elytra (the lateral edges being nearly parallel, and the posterior 

 angles scarcely more rounded or obtuse than the anterior ones) ; without any appearance of either 

 a longitudinal channel or ridges, though with a small and obscure rounded depression, or fovea, 

 in the centre of the hinder disk. Elytra elongated and parallel, rather more shining and less 

 evidently sculptured than the head and prothorax, with their apex rounded, and each with a 

 single impressed stria close alongside the suture, — more especially apparent behind. Antenrue 

 and legs diluted testaceous ; the former with their club a httle infuscated. 



Apparently of the greatest rarity, tlie iinique example from which the above 

 description has been th-awn out having been detected by myself in the island of 

 Porto Santo, April 21, 1849, — running rapidly over the hot ground, in a diy and 

 grassy spot on the ascent of the Pico d'Anna Ferreira from the west. I have 

 dedicated the species to my friend M. Motschulsky of St. Petersburg, to whom we 

 are indebted for our knowledge of the genus, —which was described by him from a 

 specimen, to which he gave the name of H. LathricUokles* , captured out of a nest 

 of the Formica riifa (into which he supposes that it had been accidentally intro- 

 duced with the dung of mice, — though it seems more probable that the insect is 

 in reality an attendant upon ants) on the prairies of the Caucasus. 



Genus 60. EPHISTEMUS. 



("Westwood) Steph. III. Brit. Ent. ii. 167 (1829). 



Corpus minutum, globoso-ovatum, valde convexum : protliorace postice lato, elytris arete applicato : 

 alis plerumque amplis et minutissime punctulatis, sed in specie Maderensi una obsoletis. 

 Antennm clavatse, basi subapproximatse, articulis primo et secundo (illo prsecipue) robustis, tertio 

 graciliore (secundi fere longitudine), quarto ad octavum in speciebus typicis brevibus subglobosis, 

 sed in specierum ]Maderensium una alternatim brevibus et longioribus (i. e. quarto, sexto, octavo 

 brevibus, et quinto septimoque longioribus), reliquis clavam magnam laxam triarticulatam effi- 

 cientibus. Lahrum transverso-subquadratum, antice leviter rotundatum et ciliatum. Mandibulm 

 validse acutse, intus excisse et membrana ciliata auctse (necnon rarissime dente minuto infra 

 apicem instructs). Maxilla bilobae: lobo externa apice valde pubescenti : interno paulo breviore, 

 ciliato. Palpi maxillares articulo primo angusto flexuoso, secundo maximo crasso, tertio angus- 

 tiore brevi, ultimo elongato fusiformi basi truncato : labiales articulo primo angusto flexuoso, 

 secundo maximo crasso subgloboso, ultimo aciculari. Mentum amplum, antice angustatum, 

 summo apice emarginato-sinuato. Ligula subquadrata, apice truncata Integra, angulis anticis 

 (in Ephistemo alternante saltern) membrana tenuissima divergenti-acuminata auctis. Pedes 

 graciles : tarsis articalis primo, secundo et tertio subsequalibus (tertio subcordato), quarto minuto. 



* Judging from the description and figiu-e, given in the Bull, de la Sac. Imp. de Moscow, our present 

 Hypocoprus difters from the H. Lathridioides, — first, in the distinctive structural modifications of the 

 joints of its anteunfe (which vriU be at once gathered from the above chaguosis ; but which do not appear 

 to be of more than specific importance, siace the same essential character of the enlarged fifth articulation 

 is equally expressed hi both) ; and, secondly, in its more granulated and pubescent sm-face, iu its poste- 

 riorly-undilated prothorax, and iu its somewhat broader head. 



