INSECTA MADERENSIA. 399 



of more northern latitudes, though abundantly distmct from it specifically, — in 

 size, outline, colour and structure. It may be at once recognised by the greatly 

 developed, and generally very perfectly-formed, lunate fascia of paler scales with 

 which the anterior portion of its elytra is ornamented, and by its elongated and 

 powerful claws. It is apparently exceedingly local, and a truly indigenous insect. 

 The only occasion on which I have myself captured it was during April of 1848, 

 in the island of Porto Santo, — when a single individual occui'red to me, from 

 amongst moss and lichen in a fissure of the weather-beaten rocks, on the northern 

 side of the extreme summit of the Pico de Tacho (1660 feet above the sea). I 

 have lately however received several specimens from Madeii-a proper, taken by 

 Mr. Leacock in the garden of liis house (the Quinta dos Padres) at Santo Antonio, 

 near Funchal, — where he states that they are far from uncommon, and where he 

 has observed them (during October) for two successive years, adhering to small 

 pegs of wood on a stone seat immediately outside his door, to Avhich they were 

 accustomed to attach themselves in the course of the night ; and which he informs 

 me are the only circumstances under which he has hitherto detected them. 



305. Hypera murina. 

 H. nigra, squamis griseis vel subcinereis adspersa, prothorace paulo magis convexo obscurius triliueato, 



elytris plerumque minus tessellatis, squamis pallidioribus undique subsequaliter irroratis, antennis 



pedibusque ferrugineis. 

 Long. Corp. lin. 25-2^. 



Curculio murinus, Pab. Ent. Syst. i. ii. 463 (1792). 

 Eliyncli(enws murinus, G-yll. Ins. Suec. iii. 108 (1813). 

 Hypera murina, Germ. Mag. der Ent. iv. 341 (1821). 

 Phytonomus murinus, Scbou. Gen. et S^jec. Cure. ii. 383 (1834). 



Habitat in locis iuferioribus Maderse Portusque Sancti, bine inde non infrequens. 



H. black or piceous-black, more or less clothed or mottled witb griseous or somewhat cinereous scales, 

 and beset with a short, rather fine and partially decumbent pubescence. Rostrum a little thicker 

 and shorter (in proportion) than that of either of the other species. Prothorax convex, and with 

 the sides rounded, — being widest about the middle ; and generally with only veiy faint indica- 

 tions of three longitudinal lines. Elytra usually just perceptibly wider behind the middle than 

 at their base ; hardly at all tessellated, though more or less mottled or besprinkled with the paler 

 scales. Antenrue and legs ferruginous. 



Very closely allied to the following species, from which it principally diifers in 

 its rather larger size and less variegated surface, in its somewhat more globose 

 prothorax, and in its just perceptibly thicker rostrmn. It occm-s sparingly in 

 grassy spots of low elevations in the neighboui-hood of Punchal (occasionally 

 beneath stones), and I have likewise taken it lq Porto Santo, — in the immediate 

 vicinity of the Cidade. 



