INSECTA MADERENSIA. 203 



the sides longer, much denser, and slightly paler than that of the elytra, — the disk being almost 

 denuded. Body beneath densely beset with sno^vy-white pubescence, with a black, subdenuded 

 marginal spot at either lateral edge of each of the abdominal segments, with a round piceous 

 tubercle in the centre of the penultimate one, and with a broad longitudinal dark subglabrous 

 vitta on the ultimate one, — the apex of which is more or less beset (like the scutellum) with a 

 fulvescent, or golden-brown pile. Antenn(B and legs piccscent, — the basal portion of \\ie former, 

 and the tarsi of the lattei- being paler, or more rufescent. 



An insect almost cosmopolitan in its distribution, being a universal attendant 

 on commerce throughout the civilized world. It aboufids amongst merchandise of 

 various kinds in Eiu'ope and America, and it was captured by Dr. Horsfield in 

 Java. I have seen hitherto but a single Madeiran specimen, — which was taken in 

 Funchal, on the wing, by the Eev. R. T. Lowe in the autumn of 1847 ; but as it 

 is manifestly an imported species, no very great interest can attach to it, — since it 

 would probal^ly be found in sufficient numbers were the proper localities inves- 

 tigated which its destructive habits render bitt too necessary for its sustenance. 



Genus 71. ATTAGENUS. 



Latreille, Gen. Crust, et Lis. ii. 32 (1802). 



Corpus sat parvum, ovale, convexum : prothorace postice lato elytris arete applicato, necnon in medio 

 ssepius subacute lobato : alls amplis. AnteniuE breviusculse clavatre pilosffi, articulo primo sub- 

 ovato crasso, secundo miuore subgloboso, inde ad septimum minutis longitudine vix decrescentibus, 

 octavo brevi transverso paulo latiore, reliquis clavam magnam elongatam triarticulatam efficien- 

 tibus, ultimo in marc elongatissimo, in foemina ovato basi truncato, in utroque sexu antecedente 

 multo longiore. Labrum transversum, autice integrum ciliatum. Mandibulm validse curtfe 

 crassse, apice denticulatse, intus ad basin integrse et membrana ciliat4 angusta auctse. Maxilla 

 bilobfe : lobo externo lato, apice valde pubescenti : interna incurvo uncinato, intus ciliato. Palpi 

 maxillares articulo primo minuto, secundo et tertio majoribus (iUo hoc paulo longiore), ultimo 

 elongate fusiformi apice acuminato-subtruncato : labiales articulo primo minuto, secundo majore 

 crassiore, ultimo elongato fusiformi apice acuminato-subtruncato. Mentiim aniplum, subqua- 

 dratum antice angustatum, apice leviter productum. Liyula ampla lata cordata. Pedes graciles 

 retractQes : tibiis extus seriato-spinulosis, anticis subrectis apicem versus leviter dilatatis, poste- 

 rioribus rectis : tarsis articulo primo minuto, secundo in posterioribus elongato. 



The Attac/eiii may be readily kno^vn from Dermestes by their smaller size, by 

 the hinder margin of theii- prothorax being usually more acutely jDroduced, or 

 sinuated, in the centre, and by the proportions of their antennae and trophi, — the 

 former of which are dissimilar in the sexes, whilst the latter differ in having the 

 upper lip entire, the mandibles less emarginated at theu* inuer base, and the ter- 

 minal joint of the palpi longer and more aciuninated than is the case in that 

 group. The four hinder feet, moreover, oi Attageniis have their second joint much 

 more elongated than (the ultimate one, of course, excepted) any of the remainder, 

 — a character indeed which at once separates it from the other genera of the 

 Dermestid(^, 



2d 2 



