230 INSECTA MADERENSIA. 



Genus 80. PSAMMODIUS. 

 Gyllenhal, Ins. Suec. i. 6 (1808). 



Corpxis minusculunij oblongo-ovatum vel subcylindricum, plerumque nigrum : clypeo ssepius semi- 

 circulari anticc sat profunde emarginato, granulato-aspcrato scd baud tuberculato : prothorace 

 postice canaliculato : scutello distincto : ehjtris plerumque profunde sulcatis : alis amplis. An- 

 tenrue, mandibulce , mentum et ligula fere ut in Aphodio. Lahrum in medio integrum. Mawillarum 

 lobu extemo comeo, apice dentate. Palpi vLx filiformes ; maxillares glabri, articulo prime minute 

 subflexuoso, secundo longiore subclavato, tertio brevi, ultimo elongate (secundo longiore) fusi- 

 formi-evato sed per marginem internum arcuate : labiates leviter pUosi, c ligula ad lobes menti 

 anticos surgentes, articule prime parvo, secundo majore crassiere, ultimo elongate (reliquis lengi- 

 tudine sequali) ovate. Pedes validi subretractiles : tibiis anticis fertiter dilatatis, extus tridentatis, 

 posterioribus spinulosis ; tarsis filiformibus, articulis secundo, tertio et quarto lengitudine sub- 

 sequalibus, prime elongate. 



Psammodius is distinguished from Ajjhoclins by the smaller size and universally 

 dark colour (as in Oxyomiis) of the insects which compose it, — which have their 

 elytra more deeply sulcatetl, their clypeus coarsely granuled, untubercled, nearly 

 semicircular, and considerably bUobed in front, their prothorax invariably grooved 

 l)ehind (and beset with large punctures, remote and deep), their upper lip entu*e 

 (not being produced into a cleft central mucro), the external lobe of theii* maxillae 

 horny, and powerfully toothed towards its apex, their palpi (like those of Oxyomtts) 

 slightly clavate, and the basal joint of all their feet elongated : whUst from the 

 last genus, its more semicu-cular (though anteriorly emargiuated) and roughened 

 clypeus, in conjimccion with its posteriorly channeled pronotum, the apically- 

 dentated and corneous structure of its outer maxillary lobe, will, apart from minor 

 differences, equally remove it. The Fsanimodii slightly recede, moreover, even in 

 theu' habits (as indeed is likewise the case, though less apparently, with the iater- 

 mediate Oxyomi) from the normal members of the present family, exhibiting less 

 stercoraccous propensities, and residing either in sandy spots beneath stones, or, 

 occasionally, amongst putrescent animal (as well as vegetable) substances, — iuto 

 which their largely developed fore-tibiae, which are stUl more powerful than those 

 of tlie Aphodil proper, enable them to burrow with considerable dexterity. 



181. Fsammodius sabulosus. 

 P. subcylindrice-ovatus nitidus nigcr vcl piceo-niger, prothorace antice subattenuato valde profunde 

 sed remote punctate (punctis masdmis), utrinque trausverse-sulcato, el}i;ris piceis profunde 

 crenato-striatis, interstitiis convexis, pedibus nifo-piceis. 

 Variat colore omnino rufescenti vel etiam ferrugineo. 

 Long. Corp. lin. Ij-lf. 



Oxyomui sabulosus, Dej. Cat. (edit. 3) 163 (1837). 

 Platytomus sabulosus, Muls. Lamell. de France, 310 (1842). 



Habitat in locis inferioribua Madene Portusque Sancti, hinc inde ^Igaris : in Portu Sancte abundat, 



