512 INSECTA MADERENSIA. 



more or less oblong-ovate bodies (tlieu* protliorax being usually almost as broad 

 Iiehind as the base of their elji;ra), by their comparatively elongated, filiform 

 antenna3 and by their subpubescent (unspinulose) legs, — which have the joints of 

 the four anterior tarsi slightly cordate, and often a little dilated in the male sex. 

 Although for the most part of a sombre hue, they are insects which are not 

 universally (like those of the three preceding families) dark, — assuming occa- 

 sionally more pleasing tints or even a metallic lustre. Still, black is their 

 prevailing shade; as is especially implied in the Madeira Islands, where a dull 

 rusty-brown is the most lively colour indicated, — and even that by two or three 

 members .only of a somewhat aberrant mould. In their propensities they would 

 appear to combine those of the previous groups with the subcortical ones of the 

 DlaperidcB ; being found not merely beneath stones in the vicinity of the coast, 

 and in the open country, but likewise under the moss and loose bark of trees in 

 damp wooded spots. In so large an assemblage it is not sui'prising that we should 

 discover several types of form ; nevertheless, though such is the case, it is scarcely 

 ])0ssible to make use of any of them for so much as even sectional purposes, since 

 they all exhibit so great a congruity in the details of then- trophi as to be nearly 

 coincident, whilst externally they are merged inter se by imperceptible gradations. 

 Although not available however in analysis, they may be advantageously studied 

 in a general way, inasmuch as the habits and outward featiu-es of the various 

 species are in some measure reciprocal, — or at any rate so far consistent with each 

 other as to render the investigation of them interesting. This indeed we should 

 a priori expect, for it is hardly to be supposed that creatures normally subcortical 

 sliould offer no points of dissimilarity from those whose range is beneath stones 

 along the sea-shore or in the rocky crevices of weather-beaten peaks. Did not in 

 fact intermediate modes of life occui", between the extremes, disclosing corre- 

 sponding links of structui'e, there might be some hope of resolving this immense 

 race into natiu'al divisions ; but, since such are traceable, we can only contemplate 

 the adjustments in question as a mere matter of local and specific interest, Avithout 

 any reference to generic simplification. 



In the Madeira Islands the Selopidce may be said to play an important part 

 amongst the indigenous Coleoptera, and would seem to include but few modifica- 

 tions (if any) of a purely sylvan nature. On the contrary, they are all more or 

 less residents hi aperto, and most of them exclusively so. One or two are at times 

 to be met with, it is true, under bark ; but even these harbour more abimdantly 

 beneath stones, and attain in such situations a more perfect development. In 

 reality, the entire number may be pronounced as not only extra-sylvan, but as 

 t\']3ically natives of the most barren and exposed regions. And if avc turn to theu* 

 external contour, we shall perceive them all to be fashioned after a certain pattern 

 which obtains throughout the whole of these Atkmtic groups. Thus, for instance, 

 anything approaching to gay colours does not so much as exist (theu- ordinary hue 

 being deep black) ; then, they are, in every instance, apterous (their retii'ing habits 



