CANARIAN COLEOPTBRA. 23 



The present Masoreiis and the following one are closely akin to the 

 European M. Wetterhalu ; but, apart from other characters shortly 

 to be noticed, they both differ from that species in having their sur- 

 face (when viewed beneath the microscope) distinctly alutaceous and 

 their scuteUum unchanneled posteriorly (or if at all, most ohsoletely 

 so). In general colouring, as well as in its maritime habits, the M. 

 arenkola approaches more nearly to its European ally than the alti- 

 cola does ; nevertheless (on account of its minutely alutaceous sculp- 

 ture) it is less highly polished than that insect, its prothorax is rather 

 more transverse, more impressed in the centre behind, convexer on 

 the disk and with its channel lighter, its elytra (which have their 

 striae considerably finer) are more narrowly and less brightly rufes- 

 cent at their base, whilst its claws (when seen under a high magni- 

 fpng power) are much less strongly denticulated. 



From the following species the M. arenicola differs in its rather 

 more alutaceous surface ; in its prothorax being a trifle wider and 

 more transverse, convexer on the disk but more impressed in the 

 centre behind, and with its channel lighter and more or less obsolete 

 at the base and apex ; in its elytra being just percejjtibly straighter 

 at the sides, usually more brightly rufescent at the base^ and with 

 their striiie perhaps even still more faintly crenulated ; and in its legs 

 being a shade darker, with their two hinder femora perhaps just per- 

 ceptibly longer. Its claws also are less coarsely denticulated ; though, 

 the teeth being in every species of course extremely small, this is a 

 character not very easy of observation, and one, I am well aware, in 

 which it is possible to be deceived. In habits, however, the two 

 insects are abundantly distinct; for whilst the arenicola frequents 

 the low sandy shores of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, occurring in 

 more or less saline places and even beneath Algae, the alticola, on the 

 other hand, is found at a great elevation within the damp wooded 

 districts of Teneriffe, where it ascends to more than 8000 feet above 

 the sea. 



The M. arenicola is likewise very nearly allied to the mgyptiacus 

 (a type of which, for comparison, has been furnished by Dr. Schaum) ; 

 but in that insect the striae are quite uncrenulated, and the claws 

 are almost simple. Its prothorax too is not exactly the same. 



I have taken the present Masoreus abimdantly in Lanzarote and 

 Fuerteventura (in the latter of which islands it was captured also by 

 Mr. Gray), during the winter and spring. It occurs beneath stones 

 and marine rejectamenta in sandy spots, usually at a short distance 

 behind the sea-beach, though sometimes actually upon it, — in both 



