274 INSECTA MADERENSIA. 



sparingly besprinkled towards their base with short, erect and rigid bristles. Antennoe and legs 

 long, and densely clothed with paler scales (with indications of setse intermixed) ; the /onner with 

 their apical joint rather short, and somewhat obliquely truncated at its extremity. 



An abundant insect throughout most parts of Etu'ope, — being, like many others 

 of similar habits, lial)lc to transmission through the medium of commerce. In 

 Madeira it occurs sparingly, in houses, in and around Funchal ; and I have, like- 

 wise, captured it at Machico, and (ui the north of the island) at Sao Yinceute. 



Genus 95. GIBBIUM. 



Scopoli, Lit. ad Hist. Nat. 505 (1777). 



Corptts parvum, ovatum, durum, glaberrimum, politum : capite deflexo, sub prothorace abscondito : pru- 

 thorace parvo, basi late elytris arete applicato necnon in medio producto : scutello baud observando : 

 elytris subconnatis : alis obsoletis. Antenrue approximate dense squamosa; subsetaceie, articulo 

 primo parvo, secundo ])aulo niajore, tertio leviter elongato, reliquis (ultimo elongato acuminato 

 excepto) longitudine subiequalibus, latitudine vix decrescentibus. Labrum corneum, antice 

 pilosum emarginatum. Mandilm/te et maxilUe fere ut in I'tino. Palpi filiformes ; maxillares 

 articulo primo longiusculo subgracili flexuoso, secundo et tertio crassioribus sub;pqualibus, 

 ultimo elongato leviter robusto apice subacuminato ; labiules articulo primo longiusculo subgra- 

 cili flexuoso, secundo crassiore, ultimo elongato ovato robusto. Mentum corneum triangulare 

 pilosum. Ligula elongata submembranacea, apice cordata pilosa. Pedes robusti clongati et 

 dense squamosi : femorihus apicem versus sub-abrupte incrassatis : tarsis articulis quatuor bassos 

 louffitudine leviter decrescentibus. 



''D' 



As already stated, the present genus and the last arc in the structm'e of their 

 trophi almost identical ; nevertheless in external distinctions they are so well 

 defined, that it is perhaps desirable not to amalgamate them. Apart from its more 

 ovate and less laterally-compressed form, Gihh'mm may be known from Mezium by 

 its extremely minute and glabrous prothorax (which is narrowed in front and 

 broad behind, — where it is closely applied to, and continuous with, the elytra ; and 

 is angulated, or produced backwards, in the centre, into the place of the scutellum), 

 and by its rather less thickened limbs, — of which the antenna; somc^\■hat taper 

 towards their extremity, and have their basal articulation much smaller, and their 

 apical one longer and more straightly acuminated, than is the case in that genus. 

 The single known species of Gibbium is a very remarkable insect, — its smooth and 

 semi-transparent surface, in conjunction with its posteriorly-uiflated, ovate body, 

 and its peculiar colour, giving it somewhat the appearance, when its limbs are 

 closely applied beneath it, of a drop of blood. 



209. Gibbitmi scotias. 

 G. ovatum rufesceuti-castaneum pohtum glabrum, prothorace brcvi mmuto, autennis pedibusque 



robustis et dense subflavcscenti-squamosis. 

 Long. Corp. lin. H. 



