186$.] 235 



Heteromera (closely pressed by the Brachelytra) predominate, with 49 exponents ; 

 the Hydradephaga being at the bottom of the list, with 7 species, while the 

 Longicomes are utterly absent. The meagre nature of this list is apparently 

 caused by the utter aridity of the soil, the comparative absence of vegetation, and 

 the unfavourable time at which the islands were visited. Enough, however, has 

 been done to shew that, with trifling exceptions, the relative proportions of groups 

 here are neai'ly the same as in the other islands of the Atlantic type. The most 

 characteristic forms seem to be Oxycara and Trichostemum, both heteromerous, and 

 (though individually less abundant) a Rhynchophorous genus enunciated as 

 Dinas : the familiar Scymnus ajjpears also to be very well represented. Ten new 

 genera are estabUshed in the volume now being noticed (of which Nematoscelis, a 

 long-legged Oligota, seems the most anomalous), and 153 species are described as 

 new ; but it must be observed that the author, with exceeding candour, himself 

 suggests iu many instances the possibility of certain of these being only isolated or 

 modified forms of other species. In this respect, as in all others where there 

 would appear to be the slightest room for doubt, his utter lack of dogmatism and 

 most evident desire to arrive at the truth, irrespective of theory, are very con- 

 spicuous. Of the insects recorded, the following list of British species appears 

 interesting, and can be compared with the corresponding list in the Review of 

 Col. Atlant. in this Magazine. Blemus, Cyclonotuni, PliilUydrus melanocephcdus, 

 Sericoderus, CarpopMlus, Monotoma spinicollis, Trogosita, Silvanus surinamensis, 

 Orytopliagus scanicus and dentatus, Latridius minutus, Myrmecosoenus, Typliwa, 

 Dermestes vulpinus, Aplwdius Uvidus, Corynetes rufipes, Mezium sulcatum (concern- 

 ing which, the idea formerly expressed, as to its being aboriginal to the Atlantic 

 islands, receives further corroboration in this volume), Anobium paniceum, 

 SitopMlus granarius and oryzos, Coccinella 7-punctata, Triholium, Gnathocerus, both 

 Alphitobii, AntMcus floralis, Homalota coriaria and clientida, Leucoparyphus, 

 Philonthus scybdla/rius, ventralis and discoideus, Leptacinus parumpunctatus and 

 Lithocharis ochracecu and obsoleta. Many of these are, of course, almost cosmo- 

 politan ; but one can appreciate the disgust with which a British entomologist, 

 lauding on one of the Cape do Verdes, and longing for strange forms, would renew 

 his acquaintance with these " old familiar faces," — especially if they all turned 

 up at once. 



There is an Appendix to the volume now being noticed, consisting of additions 

 to and corrections of species noticed in the Coleoptera Atlantidum, &c. Amongst 

 the cori'ectious, we notice two to which it occurs to us to object ; viz., those 

 referring to the Ocypus atratus and Homalium sculpticolle of Wollaston. M. Fauvel, 

 according to the Appendix, states that the former is absolutely conspecific with 

 0. ater ; but Mr. Wollaston (Can. Col., 567 ; Col. Atl., 489), in comparing it with 

 that species, notes that its mandibles are simple internally (in 0. ater they have a 

 strong and sharp tooth on the inner side), that its head is shorter, or more 

 straightly truncate behind the eyes, and that its throax is a trifle longer, with the 

 posterior angles less completely rounded oflf. From an examination of the three 

 types of 0. atratus in the Can. Col., Brit. Mus., the following comparative 

 characters must be added : it is more depressed altogether, the mandibles are 

 much less robust, the thorax is apparently broader ; the eyes reach nearer to the 



