2iJ- INSECTA MADERENSIA. 



times only just perceptible) yellowish spot. AntenntB ut base, and the legs more diluted, or 

 fuscescent. 



The Madeiran representative of the common M. brecicollis of more northern 

 latitudes, to which it ap^n'oximates very closely : nevertheless, ha^-ing recently 

 sent it for examination to M. Kiesenwetter, of Leipzig, — the author of an elaborate 

 Monograph of the genus,- published in the sixth volume of the Liniuea Entohiolo- 

 gica, — who pronoimces it to l)e distinct from that species, I have retained it as such. 

 It appears to he tolerably abundant throughout the sylvan districts of the island, 

 occurring in grassy spots, and amongst flowers, during the spring and summer 

 months, — though, from its small size and obscure, delicate frame, it is very liable 

 to be overlooked; its exposed wings, moreover, and general contonr giving it 

 rather the aspect, at first sight, of an Hvnnenopterous than of a Coleopterous 

 insect. I have taken it at the head of the Ribeiro de Santa Luzia, and in the 

 Chestnut-woods of Santa Anna, in May ; on the Lombo das Vacas, in June ; and 

 at the Cruzinhas, and the Lombo dos Pecegueiros, in July. 



Fam. 28. MELYRID^. 



Genus 87. MALACHIUS. 

 Fabrieius, Etit. Si/st. i. 221 (1792). 



(Corpus mediocre vel parvum, plus ininusvc lineari-oblongum, molle, plerumque late coloratum : capite 

 ])arum convexo subrotundato, uculis magnis prominulis, clypeo plus minusve membranaceo, trans- 

 verso : prothorace ssepius subquadrato, ad latera (cum abdomine) interdum flabellato : alis am- 

 plissimis. Antenna (prsesertim in niaribus) longiusculff, filiformcs (ut in specie nostra), vel 

 serratse ; modo in utroque sexu simplices, modo in masculo articuiis basilaribus intus productis ; 

 basi plus minusve approximatse, infra oculorum marginem anticum insertse ; articulo primo 

 leviter robusto subclavato, reliquis (secuudo breviusculo et ultimo ovali exceptis) subajqualibus, 

 vel latitudino leviter deerescentibus. Lahnim corneum limbo coriacco, transverso-subquadratum, 

 antice plus minusve rotundatum. Mandibula magnae corner lat;e, apicem versus acutissimae 

 bifidse. Maxilla biloba;, apice leviter pubescentes : lobo externa apice dilatato submembranaceo : 

 interno paulo breviore, omnino suhmembranaceo. Palpi filiformes breviuscuh ; maxillares articulo 

 primo parvo, seeundo et tertio crassioribus subwqualibus, ultimo longiusculo fusiformi-conico ad 

 apicem ipsum truncate; labiales articuhs primo et seeundo parvis, ultimo paulo longiore fusi- 

 formi-conico ad apicem ipsum truncato. Mentum (nisi fallor) veluti e duplici parte formatum, 

 alia terminali magna subquadrato coriaceO apice membranaceri, alia basali (prioris stipite) mem- 

 branacea brevissima transversa. Ligula mcmbranacca pilosa, apice rotundata. Pedes elongati 

 graciles : tibiis cyliiuU-icis : tarsis articuiis quatuor bascos subtus leviter oblique productis (primo 

 et seeundo sequalibus, tertio vix breviore, quarto bren), quinto elongato clavato, ad apicem mem- 

 brana tenuissima biloba unffuiculisqne parvis validis munito. 



The common genus Malachins, well kno^v^l by the gaily coloui'ed (though not 

 usually metallic) surfaces, soft texture, and the flower-infesting habits of the active 



