456 INSECTA MADERENSIA. 



intemo breviore (margine superiore robustiore excepto) membranaceo compresso. Palpi sub- 

 tiliformes ; maxillares articulo primo parvo, secundo et tertio longioribus crassioribus (illo paulo 

 longiorc subflexuoso), ultimo angustiore subovato basi truncate; labiales articulo primo parvo, 

 secundo et ultimo longitudine subfequalibus (illo subclavato, boc paulo angustiore subfusiformi 

 basi truncate). Mentum comeum, in parte media submembranaceura ; transversum, apice vix 

 integrum. Ligula subcoriacea, apice rotundata Integra. Pedes sat robusti subretractiles, antici 

 longiores : tibiis simplicibus. 



Externally, Cnjptocephalns may be readily known from Chrysomela by its more 

 cyliucli-ieal Ijody, Avliich is truncated botli before (on account of the deflexion of its 

 head, which is also very deeply immersed in the prothoracic cavity) and (by reason 

 of its apically-abbreviated, subdehiscent elytra) behind, by its more ample and 

 convex prothorax, by its narrower, and more internally-emarginated eyes, its 

 simple prosternum, entirely filiform antennae, and by its somewhat elongated 

 anterior legs. In their trophi (apart from oliscurer modifications, which may be 

 gathered from the above diagnosis) the species recede from the Chrysomehp, prin- 

 cipally, in having theii' upper lip larger and more robust, the tei'minal joint of 

 their maxillary palpi slenderer and acuminated, and in theh* ligula being a little 

 smaller, and rounded in front (instead of, as in that genus, truncated, and bifid in 

 the centre). Both Cry otocephalus and Chrysomela are of great extent and wide 

 geographical range, occm-riug in nearly all countries of the world. They include 

 soiue of the most gorgeous insects throughout the whole range of the Coleoptera ; 

 and, whilst gay colours may be said to preponderate with the former, brilliant 

 metallic splendour (in which green is the prevailing element) is eminently charac- 

 teristic of the latter. It is remarkable that in the Madeira Islands, where sun- 

 shine is the rviUng power, I should not have succeeded in detecting more than a 

 single exponent of each, — and even that those should be of such extreme rarity 

 that they must be numbered amongst the scarcest members of our present fauna. 

 The following insignificant little Cryptocephalus happens to recede from the 

 normal representatives of the group in being of a more sombre tint, — simulating 

 in fact, in general contour and hue, the C. signaticoUis and minutus of more 

 northern latitudes. 



349. Ciyptocephalus crenatus, Woll. 



C. cylindrico-ovalisdepressiusculus subopacus testaccus, capite prothoraccque brevi rngulose punctatis 

 et plus minusve infuscatis, elytris profunde crenato-striatis, infra humeros callo le\iter infuscato 

 notatis. 



Long. corp. lin. 1^. 



Habitat in graminosis bumidiusculis Maderse, rarissimus : exemplar uiiicum ad summam originem 

 convallis Ribeiro de Santa Luzia dictse Maio cxeunte a.d. 1849 inveni, atque duo specimina ad 

 Sao Vincentc testate a.d. 1851 capta nuper communicavit Rev'''" Dom. Lowe. 



C. cylindric-oval, a little depressed, very slightly shining (sometimes nearly opake), and testaceous. 



