402 INSECTA MADERENSIA. 



whilst the other is subapieal, transverse, zigzaged and abbreviated, but entire at the suture), 

 common to both, of a rather paler hue, — and which are sometimes only just distinguishable. 

 AntcnruB and legs a little more piccous than the rest of the surface, but considerably pubescent, 

 and (like the body) usually densely clothed with scales. 



Apparently a rather scarce insect, and one which I have hitherto only observed 

 in Porto Santo and on the Dezerta Grande, — where it occurs principally amongst 

 dry and loose stones in the crevices of the weather-beaten rocks. In the former 

 of those islands I detected it, not uncommonly, during April of 1848 ; and on the 

 latter (in the fissures of the highest central peaks) during January 18 i9. It is a 

 species of Mediterranean latitudes, being recorded in the south of Spain, France 

 and Sicily : as also in the Canarian group. 



(Subf. 10. BEACHYDEEIDES.) 

 Genus 132. SITONA. 



Gcrmar, Ins. Spec. i. 414 (1824). 



Corpus sat parvum, elongatum, plus minusve squamuloso-variegatum et pubescens : rostro brevi crasso, 

 supra piano, sublineari aut apicem versus Icviter attenuato, ad apicem ipsum ssepius triangulariter 

 emarginato ; scrube angusta curvata, infra oculum retrorsum desiliente ; oculis rotundatis vcl 

 oblongis, interdum valde prominentibus : prothorace ad latera plus minusve rotundato, antice 

 truncato et mox pone apicem leviter constricto : scutellu parvo rotundato : ehjtris liberis : alls 

 plerumque amplis (rarius obsoletis). AntemuB breviusculae subgracUes ; scapo vel recto vcl sub- 

 flesuoso, ad apicem clavato ; funiculo 7-articulato, articulis primo et secundo obconicis (illo paulo 

 robustiore), reliquis brevibus latitudine vix crescentibus ; clava parum angusta acuminata, quadri- 

 articulata. Pedes longiusculi (vel subffiquales vel antici longiorcs) : femoribus subfusiformibus 

 (i. e, in medio lc\iter incrassatis) : iiljiis ad apicem truncatis muticis. 



Although widely distributed tlu'oughout the world, the Siton^ are principally 

 confined to temperate latitudes, — nearly fifty species having been recorded as 

 European. Out of the five representatives which I have hitherto detected in 

 these islands, none would appear to be undescribed, — whilst two out of them are of 

 almost universal distrilnition, and may perhaps have been accidentally introduced 

 from more northern countries. They are insects which rnay be known (amongst 

 other distinguishing features) by their rather narrow and elongated bodies, by 

 their short and l)road rostrum (with its greatly curved lateral groove), by their 

 somewhat slender, though abbreviated, antenncc, and by their apically-unarmed 

 tibiae. They occur amongst the smaller vegetation, particitlarly in cultivated 

 districts, — where they often abound. In clover-fields and meadows in our own 

 country some of the commoner ones occasionally teem ; and after sudden floods 

 they may be frequently observed by tens of thousands amongst the refuse left at 

 the edges of rivers. . 



