INSECTA MADERENSIA. 381 



A. ovate, but less convex and rounded tliaii the A. Schaumii, piceous, with (especially on the elytra) a 

 distinctly brassy tinge, and most sparingly variegated with a rather robust, decumbent pubescence, 

 of much the same character as that of the A. Schaumii. Rostrum and prothorax as in that 

 species ; except that the latter is less evidently punctured, — being in fact, on the disk, only sub- 

 punctate. Elytra as in the A. Schaumii, except that they are not quite so inflated and convex, 

 or so abruptly shortened behind, and with the additional erect pile which is sprinkled over their 

 apical region both longer and somewhat denser. Antennce and legs as in that insect, except that 

 the former are just perceptibly shorter, and perhaps a little more robust. 



As just stated, the unique insect from which the above description has been 

 drawTi out may perhaps be but a local variety of the A. Schaumii ; nevertheless, 

 as it appears to possess small distinctive characters, which are sufficient, I think, 

 if constant, to indicate an additional species, I have preferred retaining it as 

 separate until at any rate future investigations shall decide the point. My single 

 example was captured by myself on the Ilheo de Eora (the small detached rock 

 which constitutes the extremity of the Ponta de Sao Lam-engo), during an expe- 

 dition to that minute island, with the Rev. W. J. Armitage, on the 19th of 

 March 1849. 



Genus 124. OMIAS. (Tab. VII. fig. 8.) 



(G-ermar) Schon. Cure. Disp. Meth. 190 (1826). 



Corpus parvum, ovatum vcl subrotundatum, convexum, subglabrum vel (rarius) pube variegatum : 

 rostro brevi, supra piano, ad apicem plus minusve attenuato et (in speeiebus Maderensibus) 

 triangulariter emarginato ; scrobe (in typieis brevi subcurvata, sed in nostris) oblonga lata, versus 

 medium rostri ascendente; oculis subrotundatis : prothorace ant subconico, aut ad latera rotun- 

 dato : scutello (in typieis baud vel vix observando, sed in nostris) perspicuo sed parvo : elytris (m 

 typieis) valde convexis : alis obsoletis. Antenna (VII. 8 a) in speeiebus Maderensibus longse 

 subgraciles ; scapo curvato, ad apicem parum subito clavato ; funiculo 7-articulatOj articulis 

 primo et secuudo (illo praecipue) longiusciilis crassiusciilis, reliquis subnodosis ; clava elongato- 

 ovata, obscure articulata. Pedes (VII. 8 b) in utroque sexu simplices ; tibiis masculis fere (vix 

 omnino, nisi fallor) inarmatis, sed anticis ad apicem ipsum (in maribus vix magis quam in foe- 

 minis) plerumque leviter incurvis. 



The insects which I have referred to Omias are by no means normal represen- 

 tatives of it ; nevertheless the great difficulty of obtaining anything like iixed 

 structural characters from the external details of these smaller Cyclomides renders 

 it desirable not to multiply the genera more than is necessary, especially where 

 no decided reasons exist for suspecting the several modifications assumed to be 

 geographical variations (like Atlantis) from some central ty|)e. In fact, two out 

 of the three species described below approach very closely, as already stated, to 

 the lesser aljerrant Atlantides ; and it is the disj)arity of size more than any thin «■ 

 else, between even the extremes (in opposite directions) of the respective groups, 

 which enables us to draw the line of demarcation between them. The O. JFater- 

 housei, however, would appear, in its subglobose and almost glabrous body, and in 



