270 INSECTA MADERENSIA. 



have, likewise, brushed it from off the short grass on the southern slopes of the 

 Pico de Facho, IGOO feet above the sea. On the Dezerta Grande it abounds in the 

 stems of the Silyhum Mcmamim, on the pith of wliich (in common -ndth the Caido- 

 trirpis impiiis) it subsists ; whilst on the Ilheo Chao it absolutely teems ; — as I had 

 an opportunity of witnessing during my encampment on that interesting little 

 island, with the Rev. R. T. Lowe, at the beginning of June 1850. So perpetually 

 (as lately mentioned) is that remote table-rock played over by the breezes of the 

 ocean, that even a temporary resjiite is almost an anomaly ■^^'ithin its desolate 

 area ; and if so be that such a crisis should chance at times to arrive, it is curious 

 to note how every species of life, taking advantage of Nature's repose, comes forth 

 to enjoy the cabn. I shall not indeed forget the pleasure I derived, on the 5th of 

 June 1850, from the sudden effects of a lull, after an exposui'e to the blasts diu"ing 

 several successive days, on this iron-bound isle, — how all things seemed to par- 

 ticipate in the change, and literally to rejoice. Even the vegetation, as though 

 released from its suffering, began to look up ; whilst insects, unthought of before, 

 filled the atmosphere as it were on the instant, — as though experience had taught 

 them that such tranquillity was of but short dm-ation, and that, if it would be 

 enjoyed at all, not a moment was to be lost. It was on that particular afternoon 

 that I fii'st appreciated the prodigious numbers of the Hliputian Ptimis under con- 

 sideration, — which, though apparently scarce diu'ing the more boisterous period, 

 commenced now to emerge, by thousands, on every side. From whence they 

 came it would liave been difiicult to conjectiu'c, had not analogy led me to con- 

 clude that it was from out of the stalks of some of the softer plants. I believe 

 that I obtained more by beating the Artemisia argentea, Herit., than by any other 

 means ; nevertheless they were in greater or less profusion everywhere, — until, as 

 the evening approached and the winds began to return, as quickly as they came 

 every one of them vanished. 



206. Ptinus longicomis, WoU. 



P. fiisco-piceus squamis cinereis variegatus, elytris subelongato-rotundatis dilutioribus punctatis 

 (punctis minoribus crebris), fasciis duabus (sc. basali obsoletissiina diffusa et subpostica, plus 

 minusve distincta) albidis ornatis, antenuis pedibusque elongatis pallidioribus sed vix squamosis. 



Long. Corp. lin. §-^. 



Habitat ^laderam, et borcalem et australem, hinc indc non infi-equens : in graminosis humidiusculis 

 per regioncm sylvaticam sitis prajdouiinat, sed ctiani in horto Loweano propc Funchal acstate 

 parce observavi. 



P. brownisli-piceous, and more or less densely variegated with cinereous scales, — which however arc 

 somewhat less dense than those of the P. albupidus. Prothorax and elytra the same as in that 

 species, except tliat the luttrr are rather more elongated (or less spherical), and not quite so 

 suddenly shortened bchiiul. Antenna: and legs paler than in the var. a. of that insect, but darker 



