110 CAN ART AN COLEOPTERA. 



Genus 74. BRACHYPTERUS. 



Kugelann, in Schneicl. Mag. 506 (1794). 



181. Brachjrpterus velatus. 



B. oblongo-ovatiis, subconvexus, viridescenti-niger, nitidiis, grosse 

 flavescenti-cinereo-pubesceus, dense punetatus ; jii'othorace ad la- 

 tera subiequaliter rotundato, angulis posticis obtusis ; scutello ob- 

 tuse triangulari ; antennis pedibusque rufo-testaceis, illarum clava 

 tarsorumque apicibus ipsissimis nigrescentibus. 



Var. /3 [an species ?]. Prothorace vix bre\-iore, antennarum clava pal- 

 lida, articulis ante clavam vix latioribus. 



Var.y. Subcyanescenti-niger, minus pubescens. — Long.corp.lin. |— 1. 



Brachypterus velatus, WoU.,Ann. Nat. Hist. (3rd series) xi. 217(1863). 

 Habitat in Canaria, Teneriffa et Hierro, siipei^ folia Urticce urentis, 

 L., sat vulgaris : var. /3 ad Canariam pertinet, sed varietatis y spe- 

 cimen unicum in Lanzarota cap turn solum vidi. 



The more or less greenish-black hue of this Brachypterus, combined 

 with its long and coarse cinereous pile (which has generally a some- 

 what ycllo\vish tinge) and its bright rufo-testacoous limbs, will (ajiart 

 from minor diiferenees) sufficiently characterize it. It is rather 

 common, on Nettles (particularly the Urtica urens), in Grand Canary, 

 Teneriffe, and Hierro, — in the first of which I have taken it abun- 

 dantly at El Monte, in the second above the Puerto of Orotava, and 

 in the third to the south-west of Valverde ; in the last two of which 

 localities it was also captiu'ed by Mr. Gray. In Teneriffe it was like- 

 ^ase found by Dr. Crotch. The var. /3 I have observed hitherto only 

 in Grand Canary ; and of the var. y I obtained a single specimen in 

 Lanzarote. It is just possible that the latter may be the exponent 

 of another, though closely allied, species ; nevertheless I think it 

 would be hardly safe, in the absence of further material, to regard 

 it as such. The example before me seems to differ in having its 

 antennae pale throughout, and with their subclaval joints perhaps 

 somewhat broader, — causing the club to appear a little less abrupt. 



182. Brach3rpterus curtulus, n. sp. 



B. ovatus, curtulus, convexus, subaenescenti-niger, nitidus, minute 

 et parce cinereo-pubescens, dense punetatus ; prothorace ad latera 

 a^qualiter rotundato, angulis posticis rotundatis ; scutello subsemi- 

 circulari ; antennis pedibusque rnfo-testaceis, illarum clava tarso- 

 rumque apice ipsissimo nigrescentibus. — Long. corp. lin. |— |. 



Habitat in Lanzarota et Fuerteventura, hinc inde parce captus. 



The smaller size, more compact, convexer and more ovate form of 



