INSECTA MADERENSIA. 273 



membvanacea, apice integra pilosa. Pedes robustissimi elongati et dense subsetuloso-squamosi : 

 femoribus apicem versus incrassatis : tarsis articulis quatuor baseos longitudine leviter decres- 

 centibus. 



Neitlier Ilezimn nor GihUum differ very materially in the structure of their oral 

 organs from Ftim(s,—smcQ their emarginated upper lip, then* triangular form of 

 mentum, and the slender, arcuated first joint of their palpi are exhihited, to a 

 certain extent, in many of the aberrant members of that group also. Yet ex- 

 ternally they may be easily recognised, since both of them possess characters 

 sufficient (thus far) to AAarrant their isolation from theii' central type,— though 

 perhaps not more important ones than those which constitute the subgenus 

 SphcBncus, which in fact would appear to be related to Ftinus proper in about the 

 same degree as the two now imder consideration. As regards outward contour 

 however, Mezium may be readily distinguished by its extremely glossy, and an- 

 teriorly setose and compressed, elytra, by the yellowish-white scales with which 

 its head and prothorax are densely clothed (the latter of wliich is strongly nodose 

 and sulcate, and cUlated behind the middle, though suddenly constricted or 

 shortened immediately before its extreme posterior margin), and by the excessive 

 thickness of its antennse and legs,— the former of which have their basal articula- 

 tion large and internally produced, and theii- apical one somewhat obliquely trun- 

 cated ; whilst the latter have their thighs (although more robust) less abruptly 

 clavated than is the case in Gibhium (with which however in its invisible 

 scutellum, subconnate elytra, and freedom from wings it nevertheless coincides). 

 In habits both genera agree precisely with the normal Ftmi,—heing found in and 

 about houses, or amongst dried animal substances. 



208. Mezium sulcatum. 

 M. castaneo-piceum, capita protboraceque squamis albido-cinereis dense vestitis, boc longitudinaliter 



valde nodoso et sulcato, elytris politissimis et basin versus setis erectis parce obsitis, antennis 



pedibusque robustissimis et dense subsetuloso-squamosis. 

 Long. Corp. lin. 1-1|. 



Ptinus sulcatus, Fab. Sjjec. Ins. i. 73 (1781). 



, Mshm, Enf. Brit. i. 91 (1802). 



Mezium sulcatum, Curtis, Brit. Ent. v. 232 (1828). 

 , Stm-m, Deutsch. Fna, xii. 31. tab. 217 (1837). 



Habitat in domibus Maderse, prsesertim circa oppida, bine inde non infrequens. 



M. piceous or castaneo-piceous, and impunctate. Head and prothorax closely beset with cinereous, or 

 yellowisb-wbite, scales ; tbe latter large, greatly expanded behind, though suddenly constricted 

 at its extreme base, and with three wide longitudinal furrows, — shaping-out broad ridges between 

 them, which are greatly elevated and nodule-shaped on the hinder dilated portion. Elytra 

 laterally compressed, especially in front, and exceedingly highly polished; and more or less 



2 N 



