INSECTA MADERENSIA. • 561 



Aleochara nitida, Grav. Col. Micropt. 97 (1802). 



, GyU. Ins. Suec. ii. 435 (1810). 



, Mami. Braclel. 68 (1831). 



, Erich. Gen. et Spec. Staph. 168 (1839). 



Habitat Maderam et Portum Sanctum, in stercore bovino necnon in humidiusculis, vulgatissima, ab 

 oi'ii maritima usque ad 5000' s.m. ascendens : var. /3. ad Maderse regionem sylvaticam, aut saltern 

 ad locos editiores, plerumque pertinet. 



A. sublinear, deep black, with more or less of an obscure seneous tinge, exceedingly shining, and with 

 the pubescence not very dense. Protliorax very highly polished, and with a double row of punc- 

 tui-es down the disk. Elytra uniformly, but coarsely and rather distantly, punctured; with a 

 usually small, more or less distinct patch on each at the hinder sutural angle, rufo-testaceous. 

 Legs dark piceous, with the tarsi generally paler. 

 Var. /3. rather larger, and with the clytral patches obsolete. 



A species of very wide geographical range, — being found in most parts of 

 Europe, and in the Levant. It is subject to considerable variation, both in size 

 and in the absence or presence of its two elytral spots. It may be known, ho'R'- 

 ever, from the rest of the Aleoclun^ce here described by its darker and more shining- 

 surface, and by the double row of punctures down the disk of its prothorax. It is 

 extremely abundant throughout Madeira and Porto Santo, occurring in the dung 

 of cattle at nearly all elevations. In the neighbovu'hood of Punchal, and at Sao 

 Vincente (in the north of the island), it may at times be met with in profusion; 

 and I have likewise captured it, during the summer months, at the Ribeiro Frio, 

 as also in the lofty uplands of the Cruzinhas and the Fanal. 



434. Aleochara morion. 

 A. fusiformis nigra subnitida, prothorace crebre sequaliter punctulato, elytris concoloribus, pedibus 



(tarsis pallidioribus exceptis) fusco-piceis. 

 Long. corp. lin. f-lj. 



Aleochara morion, Grav. Col. Micropt. 97 (1802). 



, LatreiUe, Hist. Nat. Crust, et Ins. vs.. 370 (1804). ■ 



et exigua, Mann. Brachel. 68 (1831). 



, Erich. Gen. et Spec. Staph. 175 (1839). 



Habitat in stercore bovino Maderae, et borealis et australis, toto anno vulgaris. 



A. fusiform, black, very slightly shining, and beset with a short and rather close pubescence. Pro- 

 thorax and elytra densely and uniformly punctulated all over ; the latter without any indication 

 of paler patches. Legs brownish-piceous, with the tarsi paler. 



The smallest of the Aleocharcs here described ; and easily known by its minute 

 bulk, short, fusiform outline, and by its dark, concolorous elytra. Like the pre- 

 vious species, it is of wide geographical range, being recorded in aU parts of 



4 c 



