1,08 INSECTA MADERENSIA. 



deep and wide. Eyes round, but more depressed than in any of the other species. Proihorax 

 rather rugosely punctured; narrow and subconical (being widest behind the middle, and less 

 rounded at the sides than in any of the foregoing species) ; with its front margin slightly raised, 

 and with three usually distinct longitudinal lines composed of the paler scales. Elytra some- 

 what finely punctate-striated, and with the interstices flattened ; more or less dappled, or clothed, 

 with paler scales towards the sides, but usually broadly infuscatcd, or obscured, on their common 

 disk, — throughout nearly the entire length of the suture. Antenna, tibia and tarsi dull 

 ferniginous, — the kffs (which, with the antennae, are rather shorter than those of the S. lineata) 

 being of subequal length. 



Likewise an abundant Eui'opean Sitona, though not quite so universal as the 

 ^S". lineata, — and recorded also from Persia and the Caucasus. It may be 

 recognised from that insect by its anteriorly-subacuminatcd form, by its narrower 

 and subconical prot borax (which is more roughly punctured, and has the edges 

 Init v(>ry sHghtly roimded), l)y the pale ashy-coloured scales with Avliich it has a 

 tendency to be lilotched or dappled towards its sides (its disk remaining broadly 

 obscured), and by its somewhat shorter limbs. Like the last species, it may 

 perhaps have been introduced into these islands from more northern latitudes, — 

 occurrinu at low elevations within the cultivated districts. I have taken it rather 

 plentifully behind the sandy sea-beach of Porto Santo, dm-ing the spring ; but in 

 ]\Iadeu-a proper it would seem to be scarce, — tlie only specimen which I have 

 seen having been recently communicated by T. S. Leacock, Esq., from the neigli- 

 liourhood of Funchal. 



Fani. 35. ATTELABID^. 



Genus 133. APION. (Tab. VIII. fig. 4 et 6.) 

 llerbst, Kiif. vii. 100 (1797). 



Corpus miuutum, ob-pyriforme et antice valde attenuatum, plus minusve pubescens vel laete coloratum 

 (rarius squamosum) : rostru subpornctu, plerumquc gracili teruti arcuato (rarius valido), scd in 

 paucis basi crassiusculo ; oculis rotuudatis promiuulis ; proihurace vel subconico vcl subcylindrico : 

 scutello parvo : elytris ovatis : alis sat amplis. Antenna mediocres rectse, ad (aut i)otius inox 

 ante) basin vel versus medium rostri insertse, sub capite inter otium inflexse, articulo primo 

 le\iter elongate clavato, secundo breviore sub-obconico, tertio ad octavum pan-is subcTqualibus, 

 reliquis inter se arete couuexis, elavam quadri-articulatani acuto-ovalem elticientibus. Pedes 

 longiusculi : tibiis rectis teretibus, ad apicem muticis. 



The genus Apion, so universal tlu-oughout temperate latitudes, may be recog- 

 nised by the ob-pyriform (or inverted pear-shaped) and anteriorly-acuminated 

 bodies of the numerous and minute species which unite in composing it, — and 

 which are often gaily colovu-ed (exhibiting occasionally metallic tints), have theii- 

 surfaces more frequently pubescent than scaly (sometimes enth-ely glabrous), their 

 tibipe unarmed, aiul their antenme (as is always the case in the present family) 



