INSECTA MADERENSIA. 565 



Comirus is still regarded by some entomologists as a subdivision of TacTiyporus ; 

 but its dissimilar general habit, in conjunction with its immarginate and exceed- 

 ingly acuminated abdomen, its more convex, pubescent sm-face, keeled mesoster- 

 num, its longer and slenderer legs, and, above all, the structure of its ligula 

 (which is not only bilobed anteriorly, as in that genus, but has the excavation 

 itself bilobed also), seem to be amply sufficient to render its isolation both natural 

 and convenient. The species are found prmcipally beneath fallen leaves, under the 

 moist decaying bark of trees, or amongst moss. They rim Tvith the utmost 

 velocity, — a peculiarity which, in connection with their obconical and sericeous 

 Ijodies, gives them a certain resemblance, at first sight, to a Fotlura. 



437. Conurus pubescens. 

 C. nigro-fuscus dense griseo-pubescens subopacus, elytris prothorace longioribus, antennis pedibusque 



testaceis. 

 Long. Corp. lin. 2— 24. 



Staphylinus pubescens {var. /3.), Payk. Mori. Carah. App. 138 (1790). 



cellaris (var. ft.), Payk. Fiia Siiec. iii. 421 (1800). 



Tachyporus puhesceiis, Grav. Col. Micropf. 130 (1802). 

 Conurus pubescens, Steph. HI. Brit. JEnt. v. 189 (1832). 

 , Erich. Qen. et Spec. Staph. 221 (1839). 



Habitat in Maderse sylvaticis, sub lapidibus truncisque arborum prolapsis necnon inter muscos, inde 

 ad 3000' s.m. sat frequens. 



C. dark brown (or brownish-piceous), densely clothed with a fine griseous or lurid pubescence, and 

 subopake (or, when the pubescence is rubbed off, slightly shining). Prothorax with its extreme 

 hinder margin generally a little diluted in colouring. Elytra distinctly longer than the pro- 

 thorax, and usually rather more picesceut. Abdomen fuscescent, its apex, and the margins of its 

 basal segments, being more or less ferruginous. Antenna and legs rather long, and testaceous. 



The largest of the Madeii-an Comrri, and easily recognised by its densely pubes- 

 cent sm-face, and by its brownish or lurid hue. It is an insect of very mde geo- 

 graphical range, occm-riag throughout the whole of Europe and Algeria, and being 

 recorded by Erichson even from the south of China. In Madeira it is somewhat 

 scarce, existing beneath moss and logs of wood in damp sylvan spots, from about 

 800 to 3000 feet above tlie sea. I have captured it in the Ribeiro de Santa Luzia, 

 during the winter and early spring ; and at the Eeijaa de Corte, in August. 



438. Conurus pedicularius. 

 C. nigro-piceus griseo-pubescens subnitidus, elytris prothorace vix brevioribus, antennis pedibusque 



gracilibus infuscato-testaceis. 

 Long. corp. lin. l|-lj. 



