352 INSECTA MADERENSIA. 



Ourculio angustatus, Fab. Syst. Ent. 135 (1775). 

 ■ Lixus angustatus, Fab. Syst. Eleu. ii. 502 (1801). 



, Stepli. ///. Brit. Ent. iv. 158 (1831). , 



, Sclion Gen. et Spec. Cure. iii. 43 (1836). 



Habitat super plantas Maderse australis, autumno non infrequens : species valde timida et in locis 

 quibusdam herbidis sat vulgaris, scd terrefacta bumi subito deciditj quapropter difficilius invenienda. 



L. slightly shining, besprinkled with a most delicate, excessively minute, ashy pubescence, and more 

 or less densely clothed with a veiy fine yellow pollen. Head with a small impression between 

 the eyes ; and with the rostrum elongated, minutely punctulated, the punctures being unequal in 

 size, and with obscure indications of an abbreviated dorsal channel at the insertion of the antennae. 

 Prathurax very roughly wrinkled and punctured, especially behind, and with scarcely any traces 

 of a dorsal line. Elytra rather deeply striate-punctate, especially towards the base — where the 

 surface also is somewhat transversely wrinkled ; with their apex (conjointly) rounded and obtuse. 

 Antenrue rather long, and dull brownish-piceous, with the apex obscure. 



The L. anyiistatKS is au insect of very vA([e geographical range, occurring 

 throughout the whole of central and southern Europe, the north of Afi-ica, and in 

 the Canarian group ; and it has likewise heen recorded from Persia. It would 

 appear however to attain its maximum in a slightly higher latitude than Madoii-a, 

 being exceedingly common in SicUy, Malta, and most of the countries included 

 mtliin the Mediterranean liasin. In England it is extremely rare, — being there 

 on one of its most northern limits, and only making its appearance on the southern 

 coast. It may be at once known from the other lAxi Avith wliich we have here to 

 do by its large and cylindrical body, somewhat elongated rostrum and antennae, 

 l)y its elytra being conjointly rounded and obtuse at theii* apes, and l)y the fine 

 golden-yellow powder with Avhich it has a tendency, when in a fresh state, to be 

 more or less densely clothed. It is not a very abundant species in i\Iadeira, 

 though pretty generally distributed over the south of the island from about 500 to 

 2000 feet above the sea. It is found, usually, amongst dense vegetation in sunny 

 sheltered spots, but, from its habit of falling to the ground Avhen approached, it is 

 not always easy to secure. I have taken it amongst the thick herbage on the 

 slopes of the Curral das Ilomeiras, during the autumnal months ; and it has been 

 captured in the Ribeiro de Sao Goncalvo, near Eunchal, by M. Eousset. The 

 Madeiran specimens have the punctures of their elytra a little deeper than is gene- 

 rally the case with the English ones. 



274. Lixus nifitarsis. 



L. (ii)acus, pube subcinere^ tectus, prothorace confertissime punctate, elytris punctato-striatis, apice 

 seorsum rotundatis, interstitiis rugulosis, rostro breviusculo subgracili confertissime rugoso-sub- 

 punctato, antennis (prajsertim ad basin) tarsisque rufo-ferrugineis. 



Long. Corp. lin. 3-4. 



