310 INSECTA MADERENSIA. 



235. Caulotrupis lucifug^is, JFoU. (Tab. VI. fig. 7, 9.) 



C. ovato-subfusiformis niger subopacus, prothorace punctato, elytris subnitidis plus minusve obsolete 

 substriato-pimctatis, antennis fernigineis, pedibus piceis. 

 Vrir. u. prothorace crebrius punctato, elytris substriato-punctatis interdum obscurissime subsenes- 



centibus, (Madera propria et Ilheo de Fora.) 

 Far. /3. prothorace vix crebre punctato, elji;ris leviter substriato-punctatis. {Deserta Grandis.) 

 Var. y. prothorace subremote et subtilissime punctato, elj'tris obsoletissime substriato-punctatis 



nitidioribus aenescentibus. {Partus Sanctus.) 

 Var. 8. fere ut var. /3, sed paulo magis fusiformis ac subuitidior, et elytrorum striis minus distinctis, 

 {Deserta Borealis.) 

 Long. Corp. lin. 1|-2;|^. 



Habitat insulas Maderenses, intra plantarum caules vel sub lapidibus, toto anno non infrequens : in 

 Deserta Boreali praedominat, qua Junio ineunte a.d. 1850 varietatem I. copiosissime legi. 



C. ovatc-subi'usiform, veiy slightly sculptured, black, and subopakc. Prothorax minutely punc- 

 tured ; and broadest about, or a little behind, the middle. Elytra a little more shining than the 

 prothorax, and in some instances (as in var. y.) distinctly polished ; more or less obsoletely sub- 

 striate-punctate; broadest either about or a little behind the middle. Antenna short, and ferru- 

 ginous. Legs piceous. 



Var. a., with the prothorax rather more thickly and distinctly punctured than in the other varieties ; 

 and with the elytra more evidently striated, and occasionally with a very obsolete aeneous tinge. 

 {Madeira and the I/heo de Fora.) 



Var. /3. with the prothorax rather more remotely punctured than in the last variety; and with the 

 elytra not quite so distinctly striated, and usually free from any indication of an aeneous tinge. 

 {Deserta Grande.) 



Var. y. with the prothorax remotely and most minutely punctured (the punctures being only per- 

 ceptible under rather a powerful lens) ; and with the elytra almost unseuljitured (both the punc- 

 tures and striic being nearly obsolete), more shining than in any of the other varieties, and 

 usually with a very distinct aeneous tinge, especially behind. {Porto Santo.) 



Var. 8. much the same as var. y, only somewhat narrower and more fusiform, altogether a little 

 more shining, and with the elytral striae less apparent. {Northern Dezerta or Ilheo Chao.) 



Although ranging through no very ojiposite phases, either of outline or sculp- 

 ture, the present Canlotvitpis (which I would consider the generic tyiie) appeal's 

 to possess a slight modification for every island of the Madcirau group : and 

 hence small shades of difference, which might other\\-ise be regai'ded as trifling, 

 become directly important, and cannot be ignored in a local Fauna, — even though 

 a general collector may deem it unnecessary to recognise them. In real fact how- 

 ever, such distinctions, \\\\c\\ viewed geographically, arc of the greatest interest, 

 as serving to illustrate what we have already so often had occasion to conniient 

 upon, namely the iafiuence of isolation and other cii'cumstances on external insect 

 form. Not only is the C. btciftigus more generally diffused than any of the 

 remaining species, but it would seem, likewise, to be peculiarly normal both in its 



