INSECTA MADERENSIA. 229 



180. Oxyomus brevicollis, WoU. 

 O. subniticlus niger, prothorace transverso (angulis anticis deflexis, posticis truncato-rotundatis) paiilo 



crebrius punctato, elytris profunde crenato-striatis, interstitiis angustioribus postice costato- 



convexis, pedibus piceis minus pilosis. 

 Long, coi-p. lin. 2. 



Habitat Maderam aiistralem, non infrequens : plurima specimina Junio ineunte a.d. 1849, in horto 

 Loweano ad Levada, primus inveni ; atque alia, per oram Funchalensem maritimam sub lapidibus 

 in cloacis detecta, nuperrime communicavit Dom. Rousset. 



O, smaller, and not so broad as the O. Heineckeni, and not quite so depressed, black, and slightly 

 shining : with the clypeus as in that species, except that it is not quite so distinctly punctui-ed 

 behind. Prothorax short and broad, rather narrower behind than before, — the anterior angles 

 being more defiexed and the posterior ones much more truncated, or gradually rounded-ofF, than 

 is the case with the last species ; a stracture which causes the lateral edges (which are not ciliated) 

 to be comparatively oblique (this difference becoming particularly apparent when the respective 

 insects are viewed laterally) ; rather more closely, and perhaps not quite so deeply, punctured as 

 in the O. Heineckeni, and less perceptibly wrinkled towards the sides. Elytra as in that insect, 

 except that they are a little more narrowed at their base, have their striae rather less evidently 

 crenated, and their interstices narrower and more convex, — being distinctly elevated, or costate, 

 behind. Legs much less pilose than in that species (the femora having their inner row of hairs 

 short, and scarcely apparent) : fore-tibiee with two or three most minute serrations towards the 

 base of their outer edge (beyond the larger teeth), — which are but just indicated even beneath a 

 very high magnifying power : tarsi with the second, third and fourth joints snbequal, but shorter 

 than those of the O. Heineckeni. 



Both of the Oxyotni here described may be known from the remainder of the 

 Madeiran members of the present family by theii" comparatively broad and de- 

 pressed bodies, finely sculptm'ed, untubercled and slightly bilobed clypei, and by 

 tlieu- short and thickly punctnlated prothoraces : whilst fi'om the O, Heineckeni 

 the O. brevicollis is readily distinguished by its smaller and somewhat narrower 

 outline, by the different construction of its prothorax (which, moreover, is free 

 from the lateral cilia which are so evident in that species), by the posteriorly 

 costate and less widened interstices of its elytra, and by its more glabrous legs. 

 Although exceedingly local, it appears to be rather a common insect m the imme- 

 diate \icinity of Funchal, — where I first discovered it, early in June 1849 (abun- 

 dantly), in the garden of the Hev. R. T. Lowe at the Levada : and many specimens 

 have been lately communicated to me by M. B-ousset, captiu-ed from beneath 

 stones and amongst rejectamenta on the beach of Funchal ; where it would seem 

 to reside, in company ^vitli Dactylosternum Roussetii, FaronialKS j^tonilio, Psam- 

 modius sahnlosus, and other insects which delight in such localities, in the neigh- 

 botu'hood of the drains and sewers, which constitute the general receptacles of the 

 animal and vegetable refuse of the town ; — precincts, which, from their uninviting 

 nature, I have not prevailed upon myself to examine, but which in all probability 

 would amply repay an investigation. 



