378 INSECTA MADERENSIA. 



has Ijeen compiled, being exactly alike. In the tessellation of its elytra it passes 

 through many degrees of relative obscurity, — until, in some instances, the pubes- 

 cence displays no traces of variegation whatsoever, being uniformly of a brownish- 

 ciuereous hue. It may however be generally recognised, in all its stages, from the 

 A. mendax and the prc\dous species (with wliich alone it could be confounded), by 

 its far smaller size (some of the extreme examples scarcely attaining so much as 

 three lines in length), and by the second joint of its fimiculus being distiactly 

 longer than the fli"st. In this last respect however it approaches (though only to 

 a certain extent) the A. inconstans ; nevertheless, in addition to its comparatively 

 diminutive bulk, it is abundantly separated from that insect, not only by the 

 robustness and cau'vatm-c of its scape and by its shorter limlxs, but, likewise, by its 

 different sculpture, colour, and form. It is essentially an inhabitant of barren 

 exposed spots, occurring beneath stones in localities but slightly elevated above 

 the shore. On the open plain of the Campo de Baxo, but especially on the 

 summit of a rounded cliff on the northern coast (whilst searching for the large and 

 beautiful Helix lenludinaUs), I captured it in considerable abundance, during 

 December 1818 and AprH 1819. 



289. Atlantis excelsiis, Woll. 



A. ovatus convesus fusco-niger, pube subfulvcscenti-, vcl subaurescenti-olivacea depress^ dense 

 variegatus, rostro breviusculo crasso, prothorace brevi j)UQctato, elytris pimctato- (an potius 

 crcnato-?) striatis, ncc pilis nee setis superadditis adspersis, interstitiis alternis plus minusve 

 distincte tessellatis, antcnnarum scapo gracili, articulis secundo et tertio subsqualibus. 

 Var. |3. elytris setulis subrigidis brevissimis superadditis undique obsitis. 



Long, coi-p. lin. 2^-85. 



Habitat per totani regionem Madcrtc syhaticam, sed prsesertim inter 1000' et 5000' s. m., a;state non 

 int'requens : folia Laiiroruni destruit, etiam die vagans. 



A. ovate and convex, dark brow-nish-piceous, and densely variegated with a fine, decumbent, greenish- 

 brown, or somewhat olivaceous pubescence, — reflecting more or less, when viewed obliquely, a 

 dull golden lustre. Rostrum rather short, and scarcely at all dilated at its apex ; occasionally 

 with a tendency to be longitudinally strigulose ; and with a central channel between the eyes, 

 which is sometitnes replaced in front by a slightly-raised line, or keel. Prothorax short, widest 

 about the middle ; transversely convex behind the middle, and with the extreme anterior margin 

 often a little raised ; closely and rather roughly punctured ; and usually more distinctly keeled 

 in the centre than is the case with any of the preceding si)ccies. Eh/Ira punctate- (or, more 

 strictly jierhaps, crenate-) striated ; free from additional erect ])ile in all ])ortions of their surface ; 

 the alternate interstices more or less distinctly tessellated with denser portions of the pubescence. 

 Antennts somewhat slender, and ferruginous ; their scape very slightly curved, slender at its base, 

 and rather suddenly thickened towards its extremity : and with the first and second joints of 

 their funiculus subcqual. Lcffs as in the preceding species, but somewhat slender. 

 Var. /3. with the elytra densely beset all over with most minute, subcrect additional bristles, or stiff 

 hairs. 



