INSECTA MADERENSIA. 



241 



losis {intermediis breviusculis calcariis duobus sequalibus, posticis longiusculis leviter incurvis cal- 

 caribus duobus inrcqualibus, munitis) : tarsis subacuminato-filifomubus (posterioribus longissimis), 

 articulis quatuor baseos longitudine decrescentibus necnon ad apicem ipsum valde spinulosis, 

 quinto gracili-subcylindrico (in posterioribus parum brevi) unguiculis minutis minus validis munito. 



The subsaltatorial powers of Eucinetus {=Nycteus, Lat., a.d. 1825), its convex 

 and anteriorly-obtuse body (the head being inflexed, and very closely appUed during 

 repose against the chest), in conjunction with its minute prothorax and largely 

 spurred posterior tibire (with their exceedingly long, spinulose and subsetiform, or 

 slightly aciuniuated*, feet), will readily distinguish it from every other genus vni\\ 

 which we have here to do. As regards the obscui-er details of its structure, its 

 internally membranous and apically-bifid mandibles, added to the basal constric- 

 tion of its ligula, and the peculiar form of its inner maxillary lobe (which, although 

 narrower, is perceptibly longei' than the outer one, — and is, likewise, more corneous, 

 and armed at its tip A\dth a robust and extremely acute claw), shovild be especially 

 noticed. Its capability of jumping, which would appear to reside principally in 

 the greatly developed calcaria of its four hinder legs, is singularly imperfect, and 

 often degenerates into a mere shufaing motion, the insect not being ordinarily 

 able, even during its most successful attempts, to rise much higher than an inch, 



as in fact its very moderately incrassated posterior femora, as compared with 



those of the bounding groups generally, would seem to indicate (the strong 

 muscles which are so evidently denoted in the Salticce not being here present to 

 require the extra support). Nevertheless, the four hinder thighs are considerably 

 more thickened than the front ones, — which last indeed are unusually slender ; 

 the whole leg being weak, almost destitute of spinous appendages, and enth-ely in 

 accordance with the smallness of the prothoracic segment for which the Eucineti 

 are so remarkable. The only other point to which I would particularly direct 

 attention relates to the spurs and spinules of the four posterior legs,— the first of 

 which are equal in the intermediate, and unequal in the hinder pair ; — whilst the 

 second fringe the extreme apices of the tibiae, and of aU the joints, except the last, 

 of the tarsi, with a dense cii-cle of rigid bristles, which in all probability assist 

 very materially, in connexion with the two larger spiu-s, in enabling the creatm-e 

 to perform its (more or less abortive) leap. In their modes of life the Eucineti 

 would seem to be in accordance with the ordinary Cyphonidce, delighting in damp 

 and rather shady spots,— and often secreting themselves beneath the loosely- 

 attached bark of trees, or in the grooves and crevices which indent the outer 

 surfaces of the trunks. 



* This structure of foot must not be confoimded with the (likewise) acuminated one already discussed 

 under the genera Cossi/phodes and TJiorictus—vrhich. we see so often expressed in insects of an Ant-asso- 

 ciating tendency, hut which is of an altogether different nature. The modification which obtains in 

 Eucinetus is long and sefifonn, and is especiaUy indicative of subsaltatorial, or shuffling, habits (like 

 those, for instance, of the Mordellida); whereas the other is short, thick and conical, and completely free 

 from 'anything like adcUtional spinulose appendages,— being usuaUy m fact constituted out of a less 

 hardened, or more elastic, material than those of the present type. 



2 I 



