INSECTA MADERENSIA. 261 



depressed head, in conjiinction Tvitli its iinprojecting eyes, giving it an almost 

 rostrate appearance. This distinctive conformation is especially evident in the 

 Porto Santan tj^jc (Tab. IV. fig. 9), which has moreover the front region of its 

 prothoras considerably more acuminated (being defiexed and compressed at the 

 sides) than is the case with the Dezertan specimens, — a difference indeed which, in 

 connection with its imiversally greener hue and paler legs, I might have been 

 inclined to have regarded as specific, had not the examination of a great quantity 

 of examples, from both islands, presented a suflicient number of intermediate links 

 to convince me that they are in reality but local states of the same insect. The 

 »«r. a. I captured, abundantly, in Porto Santo, in April of 1848 ; and the var. ^. 

 on the Dezerta Grande, dui'ing my encampment there with the Rev. R. T. Lowe, 

 at the end of May 1850. 



Genus 89. DASYTES. 



PaykuU, Fiia Siiec. ii. 156 (1798). 



Corpus mediocre vel parvum, plus minusve lineare vel lineari-oblongum, vix duram, sfepe (ut iu specie 

 nostra) viridi-splendens, pilosum : prothorace ssepius subquadi'ato : alis amplissimis. AntenruE 

 breves subserrato-filiformes vel omnino intus serratse, infra oculorum marginem anticum insertae, 

 articiilis primo et secundo intus svibclavato-nodosis (illo robustiore longiore), reliquis (ultimo ovali 

 excepto) subsequalibiis plus minusve obtuse serratis. Labrum vix corneum limbo submem- 

 branaceo, transverso-subquadratum, antice integrum sed vix rotundatum. Mandibula niagnae 

 cornese latfe, apieem versus acutissimse bifidse, margine interno integro ssepius minute crenulato. 

 Maxilla bilobse, apice pubescentes : lobo extemo subcoriaceo : interno paulo breviore submem- 

 branacco. Palpi \ix filiformes; maxillares articulo primo parvo, secundo longiore erassiore, 

 tertio buic paulo breviore, ultimo longiusculo subfusiformi ad apieem oblique truncato ; labiales 

 articulis primo et secundo (illo prscipue) parvis, ultimo erassiore longiusculo fusiformi-ovato ad 

 apieem oblique truncato. Mentum (ut mihi videtur) quasi e duplici parte formatum, alia ter- 

 minali magna membranacea apice coriacea, alia basali (prioris stipite) cornea brevissima trans- 

 versa. Ligula membranacea pilosa, apice vix emarginata. Pedes elongati : tihiis subcylindricis : 

 tarsis pilosis plerumque simplicibus, articulis quatuor baseos subtus leviter oblique productis 

 longitudine paulatim decrescentibus (quarto minore), quinto clavato unguiculis validis (intus 

 membrana angusta pilosa auctis) munito. 



Dasytes, like most of the genera of the Ilelyridce, is composed of insects 

 remarkable for theu' flower-infesting habits. They recede however from the gaily- 

 coloured, more or less painted, and often spotted, or fasciated, Malachii in being 

 either of a duller hue, or else brilliantly (and generally vniforwli/) ornamented 

 with metallic tints, — the only Madeiran representative being, like several of its 

 more northern allies, of a resplendent brassy-green lustre. In the details of then- 

 structui-e they do not offer any great peculiarities ; nevertheless their broad (though 

 apicaUy-acute) mandibles, which have the internal edge scarcely at all emarginated 

 and, in most instances, very minutely crenulate, added to the obliquely truncated 

 last joint of their palpi, then- pubescent feet, and the narrow ciliated membrane 



2k 2 



