INSECTA MADERENSIA. 591 



eyes very much larger. Prothorax nearly square (not being at all narrowed behind) ; a little 

 more evidently punctulated than the head, and with very faint indications of a subelevated central 

 line. Elytra about as finely punctulated as the prothorax. Abdomen of a rather obscurer hue 

 than the prothorax and elytra. Antenrue pale ferruginous. Palpi and legs testaceous. 



The ratliei* shorter, darker, more triangular, and very much less deeply punctu- 

 lated head of the present Zilthocharis, in conjunction with its larger eyes and less 

 rufous hue, will suffice to distinguish it, even prima facie, from the L.fuscula, — 

 to which in. size and general aspect it is a good deal allied. Like that species, it 

 appears to be rare in Madeira, though not confined to the northern coast, since 

 the only two indigenous specimens which I have seen were captured by myself, on 

 the wing, in the vicinity of Funchal, — one in the garden of the Rev. T. Ereeman 

 at the Quinta d'Ambrosio (dm-ing the winter of 1848), and the other (I believe) at 

 the Levada. It is an insect of wide geographical range, occurring throughout the 

 whole of Europe, and being reported from the West Indian Islands and the Brazils. 



462. Lithocharis melanocephala. 

 Ij. angusta nigra nitida, capite subrotundato-quadrato parce et profunde punctato, prothorace paulo 

 crebrius punctato testaceo-rufo, elytris piceis, antennis rufo-testaceis in medio fuscescentibus, 

 pedibus testaceis. 

 Variat prothorace obscuriore (interdum fere picescente). 

 Long. Corp. lin. 1|-1|. 



Fcederus melanocephalus, Fab. Enf. Si/st. i. ii. 538 (1792). 

 Stmius melanocephalus, Staph. III. J3rit. Ent. v. 274 (1832). 

 Lithocharis melanocephala, Erich. Gen. et Spec. Staph. 614 (1839). 

 , Heer, Fna Col. Heh. i. 235 (1841). 



Habitat insulas INIaderenses, prsesertim sub lapidibus foliisque arboruni dejectis in graminosis humi- 

 diuscuUs, hiuc inde vulgaris : in Portu Sancto necnon etiam in Deserta Grandi parce observavi. 



Ij. narrow, black, shining, and clothed (very sparingly on the head and prothorax) with a minute 

 decumbent griseous pubescence. Head rather smaller and narrower than in either of the previous 

 species ; remotely but rather deeply punctured ; and with the eyes small (though rather larger, 

 in proportion, than those of the L. fuscula) . Prothorax scarcely narrowed behind ; rather more 

 closely punctured than the head, and with a central glabrous line ; varjring from pale rufous into 

 piceo-rufous (and sometimes almost piceous). Elytra rather more densely and finely punctured; 

 and more or less piceous. Antennce rufo-testaceous, and infuscated in the centre. Legs testaceous. 



At once known by its narrower outline and more shining surface, by its sparingly 

 (though deeply) punctui-ed head and prothorax (the latter of which is more or less 

 rufous), and by its usually piceous elytra. It is a common insect throughout 

 most of the islands of the Madeiran group, — occurring beneath stones both on the 

 grassy slopes and amongst fallen leaves in damp sylvan spots of intermediate 

 elevations. I have taken it abundantly at the base of the lofty perpendicular 



