CANARIAN COLEOPTERA. 217 



teriorly, and has its darker portion more often resolved into separate 

 patches ; its prothorax has merely the disc ornamented with two 

 longitudinal lines (which are sometimes broken up into detached 

 spots, and at others completely confluent) ; its elytra have even their 

 basal region usually of a rather clearer yellow ; and its legs are less 

 uniformly pale, the hinder paii" (and often the intermediate ones also) 

 having the apex of their femora black, and frequently their tibiae and 

 tarsi a good deal infuscated. It is a most variable species, both in 

 size and hue ; and in some of the smaller examples, particularly cer- 

 tain ones of those from the more barren islands of Lanzarote and 

 Fuerteventura, the femora, especially the posterior pair, are clouded 

 towards their base (leaving only the apex paler), and their palpi have 

 the terminal joint more decidedly blackened ; but after comparing 

 them with an extensive series collected in the seven islands of the 

 Group, I have come to the conclusion that they cannot be detached 

 from the remainder, — their slight differences seeming to be the mere 

 result of depauperation, in those individuals in which the stature is 

 diminished. Nevertheless I have thought it desirable to treat them 

 as a variety — the " var. /3. depaiiperatus.''^ 



The M. mutabiUs is universal thi'oughout the archipelago, in the 

 whole seven islands of which, except Gomera, I have myself captured 

 it ; whilst in Gomera it was found, during the spring of 1862, by 

 Dr. Crotch. In Teneriffe, Palma, and Hierro it was taken also by 

 Mr. Gray. 



339. Malthinus croceicoUis. 

 Malthinus croceicoUis, WoU., he. cit. 420 (1862). 



Habitat Canariam Grandem, ad flores in regione "El Monte" captus. 



In general colour and aspect this species a good deal resembles the 

 European sanguinolentus ; nevertheless, by the construction of its 

 anteriorly widened and posteriorly contracted head, it is a true Mal- 

 thinus, and no Maltliodes. Apart from which, it is considerably 

 smaller than that insect, its forehead and the extreme apex of its 

 elytra are more broadly flavescent, and its limbs are shorter, darker, 

 and less robust. Hitherto I have observed it only in Grand Canary ; 

 where it is not uncommon, on flowers, during the spring months, 

 throughout the region of El Monte. 



Fam. 36. MALACHIIDiE. 



Genus 144. PECTEROPUS. 

 WoUastoii, Ins. Mud. 247 (1854). 



