INSECTA MADERENSIA. 529 



son) than to any other species hitherto descrihed; nevertheless it is certainly 

 distinct from it. It may be at once known from its Madeu'an allies by its some- 

 what smaller bulk, slenderer limbs, and by the fine fulvescent or yellowish pile 

 with which it is more or less densely clothed. Its head and prothorax, also, are 

 less coarsely punctm-ed than is the case in either of the previous members of the 

 group ; and its forehead is usually more evidently channeled behind. It would 

 aj)pear to be very rare in Madeira proper, from whence indeed I have seen but a 

 single example (recently communicated by M. Rousset). On the Dezerta Grande, 

 however, I captui'ed it, sparingly, in May of 1850 ; and in Porto Santo, in the 

 utmost profusion, diu'ing Aj)ril of 1849, — from beneath stones in sandy spots in 

 the immediate vicinity of the Cidade. The pubescence on the Dezertan specimens 

 is not quite so pale as that which characterizes the Porto Santan ones. 



Genus 178. ZONITIS. 



Fabricius, S^st. Eiit. 126 (1775). 



Corpus maguum, subcylindricum, minus durum et Isete pictum : capite inflexo (ad pectus subarcte 

 applicando), postice latiusculo truncato; oculis oblongis utrinque subemarginatis : protlwrace 

 parvo semicirculari-quadrato, supra convexiusculo : ehjtris integris : alls amplis. Antenna ad 

 marginem oculorum internum insertse, filiformes, elongatpe, artieulo primo vix robusto, secundo 

 brevi, reliquis longitudine subsequalibus. Labrum mcmbranaceo-coriacemu, ovatum, basi trunca- 

 tum, antice productum, summo apice ioterdum (ut iu specie Maderensi) Icviter emarginato. 

 Mandibula apice acutse integrse, basin versus plerumque fissse, margine iuterno membrana ciliata 

 aucto. Maxilla bilobee rectse, lobis membranaceis valde pubescentibus obtusis; externa apice 

 longe pencillato ; interno brevissimo. Palpi longiusculi filiformes, artieulo ultimo subfusiformi 

 apice truncato. Mentuvi subovatum apice recte truncatum, mode omuino membranaceum, modo 

 in parte media transversa subcoriaceum. Ligula tenuissime membranacea, profunde bifida, 

 pilosa. Pedes elongati, graciles : tibiis ad apicem internum bicalcaratis (calcariis ut in genere 

 prpecedente, sed nisi fallor baud mobilibus aut saltem ad tibias affixis) : tarsis heteromeris, 

 articulis simplicibus, primo elongate, ultimo longiusculo unguiculis valde bifidis (parte superb 

 latiuscula subgaleiformi utrinque seriatim pectinata, et infer^ acutissima aciculari recepta) 

 munito. 



Zonitis, which is almost peculiar (so far as Europe is concerned) to Mediterra- 

 nean latitudes, is, in its subvesicatory properties and general organization, a good 

 deal allied to 3£eloe ; nevertheless its active movements and largely developed 

 wings, in conjunction Avith its gaily maculated surface, indicate a closer aifinity 

 with other members of the present family of which Lytta and Ilylahris may be 

 regarded as the types. Lilve most of the Meloidce, it is reported to be more or less 

 parasitic (in its larva state) within the nests of certain aculeate Hymenoptera, — 

 especially of bees belonging to the groups Osmia and Antliopliora ; but, althoagh 

 the Antliopliora nidularis and the Osmia hirta and Latreillei are abundant in the 

 Madeira Islands, I have not myself observed this tendency in its habits. The 

 perfect insects usually frequent flowers, particularly those of the UmbelUferce, — 



3 Y 



