INSECTA MADERENSIA. . 555 



Habitat in Maderse sylvaticis, scniel tantum (ad Lombo dos Pecegueiros, Julio ineunte a.d. 1850) 

 capta. 



H. linear, brov/nish-piceous, head and protborax almost impunctate; slightly shining, and sub- 

 depressed. ProtJwrax and elytra paler than the head, being more or less brownish-testaceous 

 (though apparently iufuscated in parts). Abdomen pale at the base and apex, but obscured 

 behind the middle. Antenna very short and robust, with their base testaceous ; the apical joint 

 short, subglobose and truncated at its base. Legs pale testaceous. 



From a single, immature specimen it is scarcely possible to pronounce for cer- 

 tain as to the normal condition of the present insect. Nevertheless, since it is 

 sufficiently developed to show its general colouring and sculptvu'e, and since it 

 clearly cannot be identified with any other Madeiran Homalota, I have preferred 

 describing it to passing it by unnoticed. In its comparatively variegated surface, 

 indeed, and extremely short and robust antennae (which have then- apical joint 

 subglobose), it seems to belong to a type altogether different from the remainder ; 

 and, judging from its outward contour, its habits are probably fungivorous. My 

 unique example was captured by myself at the Lombo dos Pecegueiros, during 

 July 1850. 



426. Homalota insignis, WoU. 



H. linearis nigra subtiliter granulato-punctulata subnitida et minus depressa, prothorace anteuna- 

 rumque basi rufo-testaceis, elytris infuscato-testaceis, abdominis apice dilutiore, pedibus pallido- 

 testaceis. 



Long, Corp. lin. l|-lf. 



Habitat in fungis per Maderae partem sylvaticam, ad Ribeiro Frio a meipso detecta. 



H. linear, black, most minutely and closely granulated, and with more or less obscure punctures 

 intermixed , slightly shining, and subdepressed. Pruthorax subquadrate, clear rufo-testaceous ; 

 with a very obscure channel, or fovea, behind. Elytra testaceous, but slightly clouded (or 

 infuscated) in parts, particularly towards the lateral edges and on their outer disks. Abdomen 

 at apex more or less ferruginous. Antenna at base rufo-testaceous. Legs pale testaceous. 



A large, distinct and prettily-variegated species ; and known from the rest of 

 the genus here described, except the H. smiguinolenta (which however belongs to 

 a totally different type of form), by its pale prothorax and elytra, and by its fungi- 

 vorous habits. It is, apparently, scarce, or at any rate local, — the only district in 

 which I have detected it being that of the Eibeiro Frio, where I once captm^ed it 

 (during the winter time) in considerable abundance. 



427. Homalota atramentaria. 



H. linearis subaenescenti-atra subtiliter granulato-punctulata subnitida et minus depressa, capite pro- 



4 B 2 



