224 INSECTA MADERENSIA. 



A. testaceous and shining : with the clypeus (which is tubercled, recurved at the edges, and truncated 

 and i-ufescent in front) and the scutellum (which is deeply punctured), piceous-black, or some- 

 times almost black. Pruthorax unequally and rather closely punctulated ; with an extremely 

 largely developed patch on the disk (which covers the entire surface except the sides, and is con- 

 fluent with the dusky cloud-hke blotch towards the middle of the lateral edges) black. Elytra 

 crenate- striated, with the interstices most minutely punctulated (though rather more e\'idently so 

 than in the A. Hydrochteris) ; and with the suture narrowly black. Body beneath dusky brownish- 

 testaceous, and rather coarsely punctured. Legs rufo-piceous. 

 Sexual distinctions the same as in the last species (only in a less degree), except that both sexes are 

 almost equally shining. 



A common. European Aphodius ; and one whicli may be distinguished from the 

 other species here described by its almost entirely dark head and prothorax, and 

 pale testaceous el}i:ra, — the last of which have merely their sutm-e black. It is 

 the most abundant of the Madeirau representatives of the genus, being found at 

 all seasons of the year and in nearly every island of the group, — though more 

 especially plentiful (as indeed its stercoraceous habits would lead us to expect) in 

 Madeu-a proper and Porto Santo. The specimens recede from the northern type 

 in being usually a little paler and more distinctly punctulated. 



175. Aphodius nifus. 



A. angustus nitidus rufo-ferrugineus, clypeo nx tuberculato posticc infuscato, prothorace sat crebre 

 insequalitcr punctulato, in disco antico subinfuscato necnon latcra versus nebula pan^A obscu- 

 rissimd conspurcato, elytris rufo-testaceis, interstitiis minutissime sed paruni crebre punctulatis, 

 pedibus paUido-rufo-piceis. 



Long. corp. lin. 2. 



Aphodius rufus, Illig. Mag.filr Ins. ii. 195 (1S03). 



, Sturm, Beutsch. Fna, i. 144. tab. 14. fig. D (1805). 



, Dufts. Fna Amtr. i. 127 (1805). 



, Erich. Nat. der Ins. Beutsch. iii. 836 (1848). 



ferrugineits, Dalil, in lift. 



Habitat ad vias necnon in vinetis Maderae, in stercore bovino et equino, rarior : propc urbcm Funcha- 

 Icnscm atquc in castanetis Sancta; Annie restate obscrvavi. 



A. narrow, pale rufo-ferruginous and shining : with the clypeus (which is almost untubcrcled, slightly 

 recurved at the edges, and truncated in front) infuscated along its posterior portion. Prothorax 

 unequally, rather closely, but somewhat finely punctulated ; very obscurely infuscated on the 

 fore disk, and with exceedingly faint indications of a smaller patch, iu the usual position, towards 

 the middle of either lateral edge. Elytra a little jjaler than the head and prothorax, being 

 rufo-testaceous; crenate- (or almost punctate-) striated, with the interstices most minutely, but 

 quite perceptibly and rather closely, punctidated. Body beneath infuscate. Legs pale rufo- 

 piceous. 



Known readily l)y its narrow outliae and iiallid luio (the hinder regions of its 



