INSECTA MADERENSIA. 563 



1847 I observed it in tolerable numbers. In the spring of the foUoAving year it 

 occurred to me, sparingly, also in Porto Santo. Omng to its diminutive bulk, 

 and its habit, when exposed to the light, of suddenly retreating into the cells and 

 ramifications of the scoriae, it is not always easy to secure ; and hence, in reality, 

 it may perhaps be more abundant than would appear to be the case. 



(Subf. 2. TACHYPORIDES.) 

 Genus 190. SOMATIUM, Woll. (Tab. XIII. fig. 5.) 



Corpus niinutum, convexiusculum, elli])tlco-ovatum : cnpife protborace angustiore, deflexo : prothorace 

 brevi, postice lato elytris (pectore lougioribus) arete applicato : sctitellu distincto : alls amplis : 

 abdomine margiuato breviusculo, postice attenuato (stybs analibus exsertis divergentibus) . An- 

 tenna (XIII. 5 a) sub frontis margine inserta?, capite protboraceque paulo longiores, lO-articulatse, 

 articulis primo et secundo elongatis crassiusculis, tertio ad quintum angustioribus sensim brevi- 

 oribus, reliquis paulatim incrassatis clavam oblongam perfoliatam 3- vel 4-articulatam efficientibus. 

 Lahrum (XIII. 5 h) transversum pilosum, apice tenuissime membranaceum et vix emarginatum. 

 Mandibnlce (XIII. 5 c) ad apieem acutse incurvse muticee, extrorsum in medio fissse. Maxilkv 

 (XIII. 5 d) bilobfe elongatse angustse rectse : lobo externa apice pubescente : interno buic vix 

 breviore, intus apieem versus pube cibato. Palpi maxillares longissimi, articulo primo minuto, 

 secundo et tertio elongatis subsequalibus clavatis, ultimo vix breviore, tenuissime subulato : 

 labiales (XIII. 5 e) articulis omnibus longitudine subrequalibus (primo crasso, secundo crassi- 

 usculo, ultimo paulo breviore subulato). Mentum amplum, transversum. Ligula semicircularis, 

 processu medio minuto umbonata ; paraglossis obsoletis. Pedes (XIII. 5/) longiusculi, graciles : 

 tibiis pubescentibus : tarsis simplicibus, omnibus 4-articulatis ; posticis (XIII. 5y) articulo primo 

 elongato. 



A amfidTiov, corpusculum. 



The very interesting little insect from which the above generic diagnosis has 

 been compiled is correctly referred, I believe, to the present subfamily; and is 

 perhaps more related to Sypocyptus than to anything else hitherto described. It 

 is true that ia some few respects, as in the number of its tarsal and antennal joints, 

 it likewise assimilates OUgota (amongst the Aleoeharkles) ; nevertheless its an- 

 tennae, which are inserted beneath the lateral margin of the forehead, in conjunc- 

 tion with its short and broad ligula, and its thickly-pubescent maxillae (with the 

 exceedingly elongated terminal articrdation of then' palpi), will all tend to remove 

 it from that division : and I have no doubt therefore that Somatiiim when placed 

 at the commencement of the Tachyporkles will be found nearest to those forms 

 ■ndth which, both in structure and habits, it has the greatest affinity. It may 

 possibly indeed be regarded as connective between OUgota (in the one section) 

 and Hypocyptus (in the other), — groups which certainly possess much in common, 

 and the only ones (in the two departments combined) which, like Somatimn, have 

 ten-jointed antennae and tetramerous feet. From the first of these, however, the 



4c 2 



