266 INSECTA MADERENSIA. 



its darker hue, lai'ger prothorax, and its longer and more robust limbs, being 

 at once sufficient to characterize it ; whilst the peciiliar nature of its scvdptvire 

 will, of itself, immediately separate it from the remainder of the genus here 

 described. I have hitherto only observed it in Porto Santo, — where however it is 

 at times exceedingly abu^ndant, during the early spring months, amongst lichen in 

 the fissures of the exposed rocks, especially towards the mountain summits. In 

 such positions, diu'ing AprU of 1819, I captured it in the greatest profusion, in 

 company with the F.fragilis and the Tarphius Loicei, — particularly on the ascent 

 of the Pico d' Anna Perreira from the east. 



204. Ptiaus pilula, WolL 



P. fusco-piceus squamis subcinereis tectus, elytris rotundatis subruguloso-punctatis (punctis minoribus 

 crebris), fasciis duabus (sc. basali obsoletissima et subpostica plus minusve obsoleta) per suturam 

 late intcrraptis albidis ornatis, anteniiis pedibusque subgracilibus pallido-ferrugineis et parce 

 squamosis. 



Long. Corp. lin. ^. 



Habitat Maderam ; seme! tantum, a meipso prope urbcm Funchalensem, detectus. 



P. brownish-piceous, and more or less densely clothed with dirty cinereous scales. Prothorax rather 

 convex, short, and rounded at the sides. Elytra round, short and convex (being widest about 

 the middle) ; very obscurely punctured and subrugulose (the punctures being small, ill-defined 

 and rather close together; and without any tendency, apparently, to be disposed in rows) ; with 

 very obscure indications of paler scales in the usual positions, — to represent the basal and post- 

 medial fascife. Anteniue and legs rather long and slender, ])ale ferruginous, and very sparingly 

 clothed with scales ; the former nearly filiform, with their apical joint elongate-ovate ; the latter 

 with their tarsi (which, with the tibia, are paler than the femora) rather longer and narrower 

 than those of the last species. 



The present insect approaches very closely to the P. alhopictus, with which 

 nevertheless it can scarcely be associated, — differing as it does (even though 

 sHghtly) in the most constant characters which this section of the Ptini appears 

 to possess. Having unfortunately but a single individual to judge from, I should 

 not have ventured to have regarded it as distinct, had not the examination of a 

 very large mass of specimens of its nearest ally inclined me to suspect that the 

 minute peculiarities which it possesses are just of the nature to indicate an 

 additional species, — Avhich as yet however we reqiiire greater niunbers of in order 

 to appreciate. The main points which separate it from the P. albopictus are its 

 outline, proportions and sculptxu'e. Thus, its elytra are shorter and more spherical 

 than in any of the varieties (especially the Madeiran one, — an important con- 

 sideration, as coming from the same island) of tliat insect, its prothorax is rather 

 more al^brcviated, and rounder at the sides, the sculptm-e of its elytra is more 

 rugulose (and has the punctures, although equaUy small, less clearly defined), and 



