INSECTA MADERENSIA. 451 



in the forest region of tlie Lombo clos Pecegueiros, and at the extreme head of the 

 Hibeiro de Joao Delgada (about 4500 feet above the sea) during July 1850. 



346. PsyUiodes vehemens, TToll 



P. subelliptica convexa profundius punctata nitida testacea, capitis macula minutissima basali, pro- 

 thoracis disco, elytrorum sutura, femorumque posticorum apice nigrescentibus, prothorace antice 

 angustato, elytris profunde punctato-striatis. 

 Var. /3. elytrorum plaga suturali in fasciam transversam postmediam plus minusve latam ampliata. 

 Var. y. minus nitida, punctis paulo profundioribus, testacea, sutura pone medium femorumque 

 apice posticorum nigrescentibus. (Ins. Partus Sanctus.) 

 Long. corp. lin. ]-l~. 



Habitat in graminosis Maderfe, vulgaris, ab ora maritima fere ad cacumina montium ascendens ; inter 

 1000' et 2500' s. m. tamcn prsedominat : var. j3. nisi fallor sola ad iusulam Portiis Sancti soli 

 pertinet. 



P. subelliptical, robust, convex, shining, and testaceous. Head and prothorax less densely, and 

 much more coarsely, punctured than in any of the other species : the former with a minute dusky 

 spot behind, which is sometimes nearly covered by the anterior edge of the pronotum (but scarcely 

 ever absent) : the latter with a broad, longitudinal black cloud (more or less defined, and widest 

 posteriorly) down the centre, and which has generally either a bluish or a brassy tinge ; slightly 

 narrowed in front. Elytra very deeply punctate-striated ; vnih. the suture, and a small portion 

 of the extreme lateral margin behind the middle, black, — the dark sutural line being exceedingly 

 narrow at the base, but suddenly expanded about the middle, after which it again contracts. 

 Hinder femora with their apex picescent. Antenna infuscated at their extremity. 

 Var. j3. with the sutural line of the elytra much dilated behind the middle (its widest part, in all 

 instances), so as to join the dark portion of the lateral margin, — thus forming a more or less 

 broad, transverse fascia. 

 Var. y. a little less shining, and with the punctures (if anything) even more distinct ; entirely pale 

 testaceous, with merely the minute speck on the back part of the head, the scutellum, the hinder 

 j)ortion of the sutm-e, and the tips of the posterior femora, dark ; — the prothoracic cloud and the 

 dark marginal portion of the elytra being entirely evanescent, (The state peculiar to Porto Santo.) 



Throughout all its states, the present FsylUodes may be knoAvn by its testaceous, 

 coarsely punctured sui-face, by the minute cloudy speck on the hinder portion of 

 its forehead, and by its more or less (postmedially) dilated, dark, sutural line. It 

 is an almost universal insect, existing in nearly every part of the island, from the 

 level of the shore to within a short distance of the highest peaks, — though attain- 

 ing its maximum perhaps between about 1000 and 2500 feet above the sea. 

 Amongst long grass and herbage, wherever such is to be found, it is well nigh 

 certain to occur dui-ing the summer mouths, — abounding in sheltered spots, and 

 at the bottom of deep ravines, where the vegetation is especially rampant. In 

 such positions, I have observed it towards the head of the Ribeu'o de Santa Luzia, 

 in the vitmost profusion, in May ; and in the chestnut-woods of Santa Anna, 



3 M 2 



