INSECTA MADERENSIA. 469 



extremely pallid edges of its protliorax, are of themselves sufficient, prima facie, 

 to identify it. It is most abundant in idncyards and cultivated grounds near 

 Funchal, during the spring and summer months, — occurring on divers plants, 

 though especially the Duranta Flmnieri and the different varieties of Hibisciis. 

 I have also captm'ed it, in profusion, at the Quinta d'Ambrosio, on the foliage of 

 the Ficiis stijmlafa, dm'ing the winter; and in Eunchal itself in still greater 

 numbers (on the gigantic leaves of the Banana, in the garden of the English 

 Church), in the Beco das Aranhas, — in August. It is a species of Mediterraneail 

 latitudes, being recorded in the south of Erance, Tuscany and Sicily, but becoming 

 rare towards the north ; nevertheless it is stated to have been found even in the 

 vicinity of Paris. 



360. Scymnus flavopictus, w^oll. (Tab. X. fig. 2.) 



S. piceo-niger, capite prothoraceque (praesertim hoc) rufescentibus, elytris flavo-pictis, antennis pedi- 



busque testaceis. 

 Long. Corp. lin. |-|. 



Habitat Maderam, rarior : in hortis prope urbem Funchalensem tempore vernali, necnon ad Lombo 

 dos Pecegueiros d. 23 Jul. a.d. 1850, parce cepi : in ins. Desertae Borealis tameu abundat, qua 

 d. 5 Jun. ejusdem anni plurima specimina apricitate volitantia deprehensi. 



S. piceous-black, and densely pubescent. Head and prothorax more or less rufescent, the former 

 generally the darker of the two. Elytra very beautifully ornamented with broken, yellow fasciae, 

 or patche.s, — the peculiar form of which will be best imderstood by a reference to the Plate. 

 Antenna and legs testaceous ; the latter with their femora rather dusky. 



A very distinct and elegant little Scymnus, and, like the S. I/imnichoides, one of 

 the most truly indigenous members of the Madeiran Coleoptera, — occurring not 

 only in gardens near Funchal (where it is extremely rare), but also in remote spots 

 within the sylvan districts ; and even on the Flat Dezerta, where it is compara- 

 tively abundant. In the immediate vicinity of Eunchal I have taken it sparingly, 

 at the Quinta da Silva, during the spring ; and, in the north of the island, in the 

 almost inaccessible region of the Lombo dos Pecegueiros, — where, on the 22nd of 

 July 1850, 1 brushed it from out of the thick vegetation towards the lower edge of 

 the Riljeu'o de Joao Delgada. It would seem however to attain its maximum on 

 the Ilheo Chao, on which extraordinary rock I captured it in considerable numbers, 

 during my encampment there with the Rev. E-. T. Lowe, early in June of the 

 same year. It appears, in still weather, to be peculiarly active on the wing, — 

 under which circumstances most of my Dezertan specimens were obtained. The 

 almost magical eflFcct of a sudden calm at sea on insects of this description has 

 been already alluded to*. 



* Vide p. 270. 



