350 INSECTA MADERENSIA. 



271. Lixus Chawneri, Woll. 



Im. subuitidus, pube cinerea subtilissima adspersus et linea marginali albo-squamos& ornatus, interduui 

 tenuissime subflavescenti-pollinosus, prothorace confertim subruguloso-punctato, elytris striato- 

 punctatis postice Icviter attenuatis, apice seorsum vix acuminatis et vix dehiscentibus, rostro lon- 

 giusculo ad basin profunde punctato, antenriis basi rufo-ferrugineis. 



Long. corj). lin. 5. 



Habitat Maderam australem, rarissime : hanc speciem egomet baud obscrvavi, at dao specimina pos- 

 sideo a Rev''" Dorn. C. F. Cbawner prope urbem Funcbalensem olini capta, cujus in honorem 

 nonien triviale ])roposui. 



L. more shining than any of the other species, besprinkled with a most delicate, excessively minute, 

 ashy pubescence, and occasionally bedewed with a very fine and somewhat yellowish pollen ; 

 margined with a white baud, which however is not quite so broad or so white as that of the last 

 species. Head with a distinct impression between the eyes ; and with the rostrum slenderer than 

 that of the L. Cheiranthi, and (in proportion) just perceptibly perhaps longer, deeply punctured 

 at the base, but minutely so at the apex. Prothorax somewhat roughly and closely punctured, 

 and with very obscure traces of a slightly raised dorsal line ; regularly conical (being widest at 

 the extreme base, and with the sides almost straight). Elytra striate-punctate, and gradually 

 somewhat attenuated behind ; each of them scarcely at all acuminated at the apex, the points 

 (though not in conjunction) not being at all outwardly divergent or recurved. Antenna with the 

 scape distinctly, and the base of the funiculus obscurely, ferruginous. 



The mucli smaller size and narrower form of the present Li.rns, added to its 

 more shining, less pubescent, differently coloured, and differently sculptured 

 surface, will be sufficient, apart from its slenderer rostrimi and its comparatively 

 unacuminated and undivergent elytra, at once to distinguish it from the L. Chei- 

 ranthi. It is very nearly allied to a species from Sicily, given to me by the late 

 Mr. Melly of Liverpool imder the name of " L. Jurenei, Dahl," but which 

 I suspect is more probably the L. Juncii of the same author, — since I cannot 

 satisfy myself that there is any Lixits in existence bearing the above title. At 

 any rate, whether the Sicilian representative be the L. Juncii or not, it approaches 

 the Madeiran one very closely, though at the same time it imquestionably is not 

 identical vdih. it. It has its rostrum thicker and shorter than is the case in the 

 L. Chaicneri, its frontal impression is very much deeper, its prothorax is less 

 conical, broader in front, and with the dorsal line scarcely traceable, and its elytra 

 are somcAvhat more coarsely sculptured, less attenuated behind, and not at all 

 acmninated at then- apex. I have not myself detected this insect, but possess two 

 examples which were captured by the Rev. C. Fox Chawner (to whom I have 

 dedicated the species) several years ago near Funchal ; and I have likewise another, 

 presented to me by the Rev. R. T. Lowe, from the collection of the late Dr. Hein- 

 eckon. Its habits I have not been able to ascertain ; but Mr. Chawner informs 

 me that the Avhole of his specimens were taken from off a single plant, — so that, 

 like the L. ritfitarsis, it would appear at any rate to be gregarious. 



