INSECTA MADERENSIA. 265 



P. ferrun-inoiis, and apparently not much beset with scales. Prothornx rather convex, small, narrow, 

 and scarcely at all rounded at the sides. Elytra roundish, — though rather more ovate than 

 those of the P. pinguis (being widest a little before the middle) ; subseriate- (but not striate-) 

 punctate (the punctures being very large, though not deep, and exceedingly far apart ; and with 

 only a tendency to be disposed in rows). Antenna and legs short and robust; the former nearly 

 fihform, with their apical joint thick and ovate; the latter with their tarsi short, and rather 

 broad at the base. 



Tlie ferruginous hue, in conjunction with the large, shallow and distant punc- 

 tures of its (slightly ovate) elytra, and the comparative shortness of its limhs, will 

 at once suffice to separate the P. orbatus from its immediate allies. The paucity 

 of scales on the unique example from which the above description has been com- 

 piled may possibly be the result of accident, — since, from then- deciduous nature, 

 they are very liable to Ijecome obliterated ; and hence I would not lay any great 

 stress on that particular circmnstance, as a specific character. Its outline, sculp- 

 tm-e and proportions, however, will more than suffice to identify it. My specimen 

 was captured in the dead stump of a tree, in company with the P. longicornis, on 

 the little hill, known as the Pico do Cardo (about two miles to the north-west of 

 Eunchal, in the parish of Santo Antonio), diu-ing the spring of 1848. 



203. Ptinus nodulus, WoU. 



P. nigro-piceus squamis subcinereis tectus, elytris rotundatis leviter subseriatim punctatis (punctis sat 

 magnis remotis), fasciis duabus plus minusve obsoletis (sc. basali et subposticii) per suturam late 

 interruptis albidis ornatis, antennis pedibusque robustis ferrugineis et dense squamosis. 



Long. Corp. lin. |-^. 



Habitat in montibus Portus Sancti, inter lichenes in rupium fissuris nascentes, tempore vernali vul- 

 garis : in ascensu montis illius Pico d'Anna Ferreu-a dicti mense Aprili a.d. 1849 copiosissime 

 observavi. 



P. dark piceous, and more or less densely clothed with cinereous or yellowish- cinereous scales. Pro- 

 thorax convex, narrow, and scarcely at all rounded at the sides. Elytra round and convex 

 (being widest about the middle) ; lightly subseriate-punctate (the punctures being rather large, 

 but exceedingly shallow, and somewhat distant ; and with only a very slight tendency to be 

 disposed in rows) ; and with a very obscure, interrupted, transverse band at their extreme base, 

 and with a rather more evident, though equally interrupted, posterior one (in the usual position), 

 more or less white. Antenn<e and legs robust, ferruginous, and densely clothed with yellowish- 

 cinereous scales ; the former nearly filiform, with their apical joint considerably thickened and 

 ovate ; the latter with then tarsi rather short, and broad at the base. 



In the large, remote and lightly-impressed punctures of its elytra the present 

 Ftinus is som'ewhat allied to the P. or5ai«5,— nevertheless, they are neither so large 

 nor so wide apart as those of that species ; whUst, on the other hand (as regards 

 profundity), they are even stiU shaUower. In other respects the two insects are 

 verv distinct,— the more rounded oittUne of the P. nodalus, in conjimction with 

 ^ 2m 



