INSECTA MADERENSIA. 183 



acuminated posteriorly, and slightly so in front, being widest at a short distance behind the 

 base ; and with a deeply impressed sutural stria on each, which is slightly curved (and more 

 especially distinct) in front. Antenna and legs pale testaceous. 



The present Holoparameciis recedes from the S. ccmlarum (the only other 

 member of the genus hitherto described which has eleven joints to its antennae) 

 principally ia its darker and more pellucid hue, and ia its somewhat more pubes- 

 cent and posteriorly-actuniaated form; whilst its hinder prothoracic constriction 

 is of a different nature, — the raised, cloven portion in the centre beiag more 

 distinctly developed than in that species, which has (instead of it) a twofold 

 impression a little in advance of its place. Nevertheless it must be admitted that 

 the two insects approach each other very closely. The S. niger was discovered in 

 Sicily, in 1842, by the late Mr. Melly of Liverpool, beneath the bark of a fig-tree 

 in the garden of a Convent near Catania, and was sent by Che\T.*ier, under the 

 specific title which it still retains, to Dr. Aube for description, — by whom it was 

 characterized in the Amiales de la Societe Entomologique de France in 1843. As 

 its name would seem to imply, the Sicilian specimens are very much darker than 

 the Madeiran ones, — which last appear to correspond better with a pale variety 

 detected by Gene in Sardinia. On the simny slopes of Madeii'a, at low altitudes, 

 it is exceedingly abiuidant, dvu'ing the autumnal and winter months, adhering to 

 the under sides of stones and scorige, from the latter of which it is often almost 

 impossible to extricate it, — its very minute size enabling it to retreat into the 

 numerous cavities and air-holes with which they are everywhere ramified. I first 

 took it, in October 1847, on the high cliffs between Funchal and the Cabo Gerajao ; 

 and it has subsequently occurred to me in innumeraljle localities throughout the 

 southern districts of the island, from the level of the shore at the Praya Formoza 

 to the summit of the little hills of the Pico da Cruz and the Pico do Cardo. In 

 dry exposed spots towards the south of Porto Santo, slightly elevated above the 

 sea, it is equally common : but I have not as yet observed it, either there or else- 

 where, in any other position except either beneath stones, or else crawling at the 

 roots of grass on the hot ground in their immediate vicinity. 



Genus 63. CORTICARIA. 



Marsham, Ent. Brit. i. 106 (1802). 



Corpus minutum, plus minusve ovatum, convexiusculum, pubescens : prothorace subrotundato, ad 

 latera interdum crenulato sed haud marginato : alls amplis. Antenna clavatse, capitis pro- 

 thoracisque vix longitudine, articulis primo et secundo (illo, subgloboso, prsecipue) robustis, 

 tertio secundi longitudine, quarto paulo brcviore, iude ad octavum paulatim brevioribus lati- 

 tudine subjequalibus, reliquis clavam magnam laxani triarticulatam efficientibus (ultimo ovato 

 apice oblique truncato). Labrum transversum, antiee integrum. Mandibula acutissimae eden- 

 tatse incuiTfe, intus membraua tenuissinia ciliata auctse. Maxilla lobo singulo recto apice piloso 

 instructse. Palpi maxillares breves, articulis primo et secundo minutissimis, tertio magno sub- 



