INSECTA MADERENSIA. 551 



The present Homalota may be known by its narrow and elongated outline, by 

 the obscure central fovea on the hinder portion of its prothorax, Ijy its reddish- 

 brown antennae, and by its distinctly fuscescent elytra. Although occvu-ring in 

 comparatively dry spots (in Porto Santo), I am inclined to suspect, from its some- 

 what lengthened posterior tarsi and general contour, that it is normally a sub- 

 aquatic insect, — the destruction of the wood on that island having so far diminished 

 the supply of water (which is mainly dependent, in these latitudes, on distillation 

 from the atmosphere by the large and brightly-polished leaves of evergreen trees 

 and shrubs) as to have rendered localities which must have been formerly moist 

 now completely barren, and to have necessitated the adaptation of the animal and 

 vegetable life (which was able to endure the change) to considerably altered con- 

 ditions. It appears to differ in no respect from the H. gregaria of Erichson (the 

 Tachyusa imminiita of the same author), a species very abundant in central and 

 southern Eui-oj^e, except that it is a little narrower and has its elytra rather paler 

 than is generally the case in more northern specimens. Such slight modifications 

 as these, however, I believe that even latitude alone would be sufficient to account 

 for, — and therefore, a Jbriiorl, the circumstances to which we have just alluded. 

 It is recorded by Erichson in Egypt, Sardinia and Austria ; and it likev\-ise occurs 

 in England, Germany and France. In Madeira proper I have not hitherto 

 observed it ; but in Porto Santo I captiu-ed it not uncommonly, from beneath 

 stones, at the western extremity of the island, in positions Ijut scarcely elevated 

 above the sea-shore, — diu'ing AprU 1848. 



420. Homalota Philonthoides, TVoll. 



H. angusto-sublinearis fusco-nigra subtilissime grauulata subopaca valdius pubescens depressa, pro- 

 thorace postice vix angustato, elytris vis fuscescentioribus, antennis pedibusque longiusculis, illis 

 basi dilutioribus, his pallido-testaceis. 



Long. Corp. lin. 1^-1|. 



Habitat in stercore bovino per Maderse regionem sylvaticam, hiuc inde nou infrequens : ad Cruzinhas 

 mense Julio ineunte a.d. 1850 sat copiose observavi. 



H. rather narrow and linear, brownish- or piceous-black, head and prothorax most delicately and 

 closely granulated, and without punctures intermixed ; nearly opake, more pubescent than any of 

 the other species, and depressed. Prothorax slightly narrowed behind ; and usually altogether 

 unchanneled (though sometimes with indications of a small rounded forea in the centre of its 

 extreme base). Elytra scarcely more fuscescent than the rest of the surface; and slightly punc- 

 tured. Abdomen shining. Antennce and legs rather long; the former robust, and gradually 

 thickened to the extremity, diluted at their base ; the latter pale testaceous. 



The present insect and the H. currens are at first sight a good deal allied, since 

 their characters are not always apparent without the aid of a powerful glass. 

 Nevertheless they are unquestionably distinct, their differences not being the less 

 real because difficult of observation. TThen viewed beneath the microscope indeed 



