584 INSECTA MADERENSIA. 



P. black. Head and prot/iurax as in the P. bipuslulatus, except that the former is perhaps a trifle less 

 broad and more ovate, and the latter a little more narrowed anteriorly. Elytra as in that 

 species, except that there is no appearance of the bright riifo-sanguineous patch which is there so 

 conspicuous. Lef/s slightly piceseent, with their two anterior coxa (and sometimes also, though 

 less perceptibly, the inner side of all the femora) more or less testaceous. 

 Male, with the two front tarsi considerably dilated. 



The Madciran form of the common Eiu'opean P. canans is that in which the 

 sanguineous {medial) dash on each of its el}i:ra is altogether obsolete, — so that 

 there can be no fear of confounding it with its (otherAvise) near ally the P. bipus- 

 tulatus, with Avhich it is often found in company. Even the ordinary northern 

 tj^e however may be easUy recognised from that insect, not only by the different 

 shape and more central position of its el>H;ral patch, but likewise by its somcAvhat 

 more ovate head and anteriorly-narrower prothorax, and by the more or less 

 testaceous hue of its two front coxtc. It possesses a very wide geographical range, 

 occurring tkroughout the whole of Eui'ope and the north of Africa, and being 

 reported from the Cape of Good Hope and the West Indian Islands. It is pretty 

 generally distributed over Madeira, — both in the dung of cattle, and imder stones 

 and decomposing vegetable refuse at the edges of the streams. I have taken it 

 near Funchal, at Santa Anna, and at the Cruzinhas. 



§ III. Prothoraj: seriehus dorsalihus e punclis sex compositia. 



456. Philonthiis aterrimus. 

 P. angustus niger, capite subquadrato-ovato, elytris interdum subpicescentibus, minus dense et sat 

 profunde punctatis, antennarum basi dilutiore, pedibus infuscato-testaceis. 

 Mas, capite paulo majorc, antrorsum subdilatato. 

 Long. Corp. lin. 2-3i. 



Staphylimts aterrimus, Grav. Col. ATicropt. 41 (1802). 

 Cqfius nigritulm, Maun. Bracliel. 32 (1831). 

 Philonthus aterrimus, Erich. Oen. et Spec. Staph. 492 (1839). 

 Staphi/lintis aterrimus, Zett. Ins. Lapp. 65 (1840). 



Habitat Maderam et Portum Sanctum, prsesertim sub lapidibus per margincs rivulorum nccnon in 

 graminosis humidiusculis, ubique fi-equens. 



P. narrow, and black. Head and prothorax highly polished (with more or less of an fcneous tinge), 

 and nearly glabrous ; the former subquadrate-ovate (though somewhat variable in outline), and 

 with the palpi either rufo-piceous or ferruginous ; the latlei- with a longitudinal series of six 

 pmicturcs down either side of its disk, and with a few scattered ones between them and the 

 edges. Elytra very often diluted in coloviring (being more or less piceseent) ; rather distinctly, 

 but not very closely, punctured, and densely pubescent. Antenna (especially at their base) more 

 or less diluted in hue. Lrt/s pale testaceous, but unequally infuscated in parts. 

 Male, with the head a httle larger, and somewhat dilated anteriorly. 



