574 INSECTA MADERENSIA. 



a little dusky about the region of the scutellum, and posteriorly. Abdomen punctured and 

 pubescent, black at the base ; its apex, and generally (though not always) the hinder margins of 

 the other segments, more or less ferruginous. Antenna short and robust, very much thickened 

 towards their extremities (where, in the larger specimens, they are infuscated). Legs testaceous. 

 Var. /3. smaller, and with the antennae usually a little paler. 



There are, apparently, two distinct states of the present Ilycetoporus, — one large 

 (which I assume to be typical), and the other small. This disparity of iRilk, more- 

 over, does not seem to be in any way a sexiial character : nevertheless, even though 

 I have not been able to obtain intermediate links to connect the extremes, I am 

 persuaded that the two arc specifically identical, — since, vnih. the exception of the 

 size, and the slightly paler antenna? of the smaller variety, there does not appear 

 to be any difference between them. I have no hesitation also in referring them to 

 the M. promts of Erichson, since they possess the exact peculiarities of the pro- 

 thoracic punctures, and the short incrassated antenna?, so characteristic of that 

 insect, and agree likewise fldth a typical example lately communicated by M. Dohrn 

 from Germany, — the somewhat more pallid hue of the Madeiran specimens being 

 of tri^■ial importance, and in all prol)ability the mere residt of local circumstances 

 or of latitude. It occm-s in several parts of central and sub-boreal Eiu'ope ; but 

 in Madeira is exceedingly rare, where it is confined to sylvan spots of a lofty 

 elevation. I have captured it from l^eneath moist decaying bark at the Feijaa de 

 Corte, the Cruzinhas, the Lombo dos Pecegueiros, and the Fanal. 



(Subf. 3. STAPHYLINIDES.) 



Genus 197. OTHIUS. 

 (Leach) Steph. III. Brit. Ent. v. 253 (1832). 



Corpus sat magnum, elongato-lineare : capite magno elongato-subovato, ad basin facile trancato ; 



oculis rotundatis parvis (in spccicbus Maderensibus minutissimis) : prothorace oblongo, basi 



leviter rotundato, apice subtruncato, sa;pius utrinque (inter dorsum et latus) punctis pei-paucis 



(plus minusve remotis) longitudinaliter impresso : elytris punctulatis sutura integerrima, (in 



nostris) brevissimis conjuiictim subcmarginato-truncatis : alis (in speciebus typicis amplis, scd in 



JIadereusibus) omniiio obsolctis : abdomine hncari marginato. Antenna in frontis margine 



anteriore (ab oculis totidem atque inter se distantes) insertfe, breviusculfe, rectK, fihformes, 



articulo primo elongato, secundo tertioque obconicis (illo breviorc), ultimo subacuminato-ovato. 



Labrum profunde bilobum et }>ilis longissimis munitum. Mandibula validre, iutus in medio 



ol)tuse dentata; et basin versus lacinia menibranacca liberri dense ciliatil instructae. Maxilla 



bilobae : lobo externa brevi corneo subcylindrico, apice inflexo membranacco valde barbato : 



interna ampliore sed multo breviore, membranacco, intus dense pubescente. Palpi maxillares 



aiticulo primo minuto, sccundo et tertio longitudinc suba?qualibus, ultimo minore fere subulato : 



labiates articulis longitudinc subfcqualibus, ultimo apice subacuminato. Mentum transvcrsuui, 



apice late emarginatum. Liyula elongate, apice rotundata integra tenuissimc membranacea; 



