INSECTA MADERENSIA. 553 



422. Homalota tantilla, WolL 



H. angusto-linearis fusco-nigra obsoletissime granulata subnitida et minus depressa, capite postice 

 valde truncato, prothorace brevi, elytris abbi'eviatis picescentibus, antennis pedibusque brevibus, 

 illis fuscis basi ferrugineis (articulo ultimo bre\'i crassiusculo), his pallido-testaceis. 



Long. Corp. lin. ^-1. 



Habitat per regionem Madei'te sylvaticam excelsam, praesertim inter arbusculas in iiipibus crescentes, 

 sestate rarior. 



H. narrow and linear, brownish- or piceous-black, head and prothorax most obsoletely granulated, 

 and with the faintest indications of a few punctures towards the sides (neither the granules nor 

 punctures being at all appreciable except under a high microscopic power) ; slightly sliiuing, and 

 not mucli depressed. Head very straightly and abruptly truncated behind. Prothorox short, 

 with the sides rounded, and of nearly equal breadth before and behind ; unchanneled (though 

 with indications of a small fovea in the centre of its extreme base). Elytra much abbreviated, a 

 little more distinctly punctulated than the head and prothorax, and more or less picescent. 

 Abdomen at its apex usually diluted in colouring. Antenna and legs, especially the former (which 

 are reddish-brown towards their apex and ferruginous at their base, and with their terminal joint 

 short and ovate, being a good deal more robust than the preceding ones), abbreviated ; the latter 

 pale diluted-testaceous. 



An insignificant (but nevertheless distinct) little species, and tlie smallest of the 

 Madeii'an Somalotce. It may be known by its narrow and subcylindrical body, 

 greatly (and suddenly) posteriorly-truncated head, by its comparatively abbre- 

 viated elytra and limbs, and by the short and somewhat thickened ultimate joint 

 of its antennae. The sculpture of its head and prothorax, moreover, is different 

 from that of its allies, — both the granules and pimctures being almost obsolete, 

 and only just perceptible under a high power of the microscope ; and the apex of 

 its abdomen is usually fuscescent. Like the H. currens, it is confined principally 

 to lofty elevations, and would seem to be peculiar, or nearly so, to the sylvan 

 districts, — occurring in grassy spots, and amongst vegetation on rocks. I have 

 captured it at the head of the Ribeii'o de Joao Delgada, at the Cruzinhas and the 

 Fanal, and (more sparingly) at Santa Anna and Sao Vincente, — during the summer 

 months. 



423. Homalota plebeia, Wall. 



H. linearis fusco-nigi-a sat profunde punctulata nitida subconvexa, prothorace postice latiusculo, elytris 

 vix fuscescentioribus, antennis pedibusque mediocribus, ilhs robustis basi dilutioribus, ilhs pallido- 

 testaceis subinfuscatis. 



Long. Corp. lin. l-lj. 



Habitat in locis similibus ac prsecedens, rarissime. 



H. not quite so linear as the H. tantilla, brownish- or piceous-black, head and prothorax rather 

 coarsely punctulated (the latter with the under granules also tolerably distinct) ; shining, rather 



4 B 



