384 INSECTA MADERENSIA. 



§ II. Corpus plus minusve sulfflohoso-ovatum fere fflabrum ; seutello minutissimo. 



294. Omias Waterhousei, nw. (Tab. YII. fig. 8.) 



O. iubglobosus valde arcuato-couve.xus nitidiis, obsoletissime subviridcsccnti-, vel subcyanescenti-ater 

 et undique subtiliter punctulatus^ prothorace subconico, elj'tris punctato-striatisj antennis pedi- 

 busque rufo-ferrugineis. 

 Var. ^. paulo major et ovatior, vLx minus nitidus, elytris leviter striato-punctatis. (Ins. Deserta 

 Grandis.) 



Long. Corp. lin. 1^-2. 



Habitat sub lapidibus in montibus superioribus Maderse, prsesertim in graminosis a 3000' usque ad 

 4000' s. m., toto anno frequens : var. /3. sola in Deserta Grandi, et illic tantum, nisi fallor, 

 occurrit, qua mensibus Januario a.d. 1849 et Maio a.d. 1850 plurima specimina cepi. 



In honorcm peritissimi G. R. WaterhousCj Musei Britannici comiti, qui tamdiu scientise naturalis 

 magister nomen Anglicanum honoribus sustulit, hoc insectum valde iudigenum nuucupavi. 



O. .subglobose-ovate, being exceedingly convex and regularly arcuated above (there being no depres- 

 sion at the junction of the prothorax with the elytra), intense black, with a just perceptibly 

 greenish or bluish tinge, shining and almost glabrous, and minutely punctulatcd all over. Ros- 

 trum very short and thick ; considerably attenuated towards the apex ; more roughly punctured 

 than the rest of the surface, and with a tendency to be longitudinally strigulose : the eijes very 

 much depressed. Prothurax subconical, being widest at, or immediately in front of, its extreme 

 base; without any appearance of a dorsal line; and usually with an exceedingly few scales, of an 

 opaline, greenish-white, or golden-green tinge, scattered about its sides. Elytra much inflated 

 and convex, and usually mdest about midway between its centre and base; rather lightly 

 punctate-striated ; entirely free from erect hairs or pile, but with a few scattered depressed scales 

 (similar to those on the prothorax) generally apparent towards its base and apex, — especially the 

 former, where they are often tolerably distinct about the region of the shoulders. Anienrue and 

 leffs rufo-ferruginous. 

 Var. (3. larger and more ovate, just perceptibly less shining, and with the elytra more lightly 

 sculptured (not only the striae being less perceptible, but the punctures, also, shallower), — and 

 more strictly striate-punctate than punctate-striate. (The state peculiar to the Dezerta Grande.) 



A triily iudigenous insect, — its intensely dark, subglabrous, higlily polished, 

 minutely punctulated, very convex, and I'egularly arcuated iipper sui-face, added to 

 its short, ovate outline, conical prothorax, and acuminated rostrum, giving it a 

 character which it is impossible to mistake. The just perceptibly greenish or cya- 

 ncous tinge, moreover, which is traceable in all parts of its body, except on the 

 liml)s (which arc pale rufo-ferruginous), in conjunction witli the exceedingly few 

 opaline, or greenish-white scales which are scattered about its sides, and which 

 reflect, when viewed obliquely, more or less of a metallic lustre, imjaart a peculiar 

 additional shade to its (otherwise) deep black hue, wliich I do not remember to 

 liave noticed in any other insect with which I am acquainted. Although by no 

 means an ordinarv Oiuias, it has rather more in conunon with that crenus than 



