206 INSECTA MADERENSIA. 



Much confusion seems to have arisen in the synonjiny of the Anthreni* , — 

 owing partially perhaps to the perishable nature of theii" scales, and their conse- 

 quent liability to become more or less denuded of them, under which cu-cum- 

 stanccs many of the species exliibit, prima facie, but slight differences from each 

 other. TMien in that condition the A. variiis and nutseorum might be ahnost 

 confounded inter se, did not other characters than the arrangement of their 

 pubescence exist to separate them. In aU instances, however, the entirely black 

 legs and antennse of the former will, apart from its rather larger size and its 

 normal tendency to be more densely clothed with golden-yellow scales, serve to 

 distinguish it from the latter. The present insect is very abundant at times in 

 the vicinity of Funchal, — particularly in gardens during the spring, where it may 

 be often observed in the flowers of the common moutlily rose : and in April of 

 1851 it was captm'cd by Professor Heer from the blossoms of apple-trees. It is 

 universally distributed over Em-ope, and occm-s likemse in the Canary Islands. 



Sectio v. CORDYLOCERATA. 

 Fam. 18. BYRRHIDiE. 



Genus 73. SYNCALYPTA. 



(DiUwyn) Stojili. 7//. Brit. Eiit. iii. 133 (1830). 



Corpus miuutum, orbiculato-ovatum, couvcxum, plus miuusve tomentosum setisque rigidis adspersum : 

 capite retracto inflexo, ad prosternum applicando : prothorace postice lato elytris arete applicato ; 

 prosterno antice producto : alis (in speeiebus Maderensibus) obsoletis. Antenna breves (capite 

 paulo longiores) elavatfc, in fovea prostcrni inter otium repositse, articulis primo et secundo 

 robustis subcylindricis, inde ad octavum (in speeiebus typieis niinutis sub;eqiialibus, sed in 

 nostris) longitudine decrescentibus, reliquis clavam magnam subsolidam triarticulatam efficientibus 

 (nono parvo transverse, deeimo majore, ultimo maximo globoso vel ovato). Labrum breve trans- 

 versum. Mandibuhe curtre, apice denticulatfe, intus basi profundc sinuatse. Maxill<e biloba; : 



* The Anthreniis -with which we arc liere concerned has usually stood under the name of Verhasci, 

 Linn., having been supposed to be identical with the Byrrhus Verhasci oi i\\e Systema Xaturce {x.it. 1767), 

 — wliich in realitv' however is a totally diilcrent insect. In point of foct, Olivier was the first to charac- 

 terize it (In 1790) ; but since he fell into the error (wliioli has since been generally endorsed) of referring 

 it to the B. Verbasci of Linnaeus, liis description, so far at least as tlie name is concerned, becomes void, 

 and we are compelled to accept the Fabrieian one of varius (published in 1792) instead. Linnseus's 

 Byrrlius Verbasci is (as rightly conjectured by Erichson) the Altayeniis trifasciattis of modem authors 

 (whicii title it ought therefore, in right of priority, to supei-sede),- — as may be seen by a reference to the 

 Linnsean collection, where there are two well-preserved specimens stUI in existence of the B. Verbasci, 

 with the original label attached to them, difiering in no respect from the Attagcnus trifasciatus of later 

 times. 



