CANARIAN COLEOPTERA. 243 



Genus 161. PIARUS. 

 WoUaston, Trans. Eat. Soc. Lond. (3rd series) i. 209 (1862). 



388. Piarus basalis. 



Piarus basalis, Woll, Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. (3rd series) i. 210. pi. viii. 

 f. 7 (1862). 



Habitat Lanzarotain et Fuerteventuram, in stercore arido (sc. bo- 

 vino, equino, camelino) una cum Dignomo, Notlomimo et ctet. dcgens. 



The dark blackisb-piceous hue of this insect, combined with its 

 very densely and roughly punctured prothorax, the fascia of pale 

 scales with which its elytra are ornamented immediately behind their 

 extreme base, and the long, stiff, and suberect hairs with which it is 

 thickly clothed, will readily distinguish it. It seems to be peculiar 

 to Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, where it is not uncommon during 

 the winter and spring months, — secreting itself principally (like Di- 

 gnomus, Notiomimm, and the Corynetes fimetarius) iu the dried dung 

 of horses, oxen, and camels, in the most arid and dusty spots. It 

 occurs, however, though less frequently, beneath stones hkewise. In 

 both of those islands it was found also by Mr. Gray. 



Genus 162. PIOTES. 

 WoUaston, Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. (3rd series) i. 211 (1862). 



389. Piotes inconstans. 



Piotes inconstans, Woll., Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. (3rd series) i. 212, 

 pi. viii. f. 8 (1862). 



Habitat Canariam Grandem, sub lapidibus in locis aridis, raris- 

 sima. 



The present insect, which I have observed only in Grand Canary, 

 is a most variable one, both in its clothing and in the ornamentation 

 of its elytra. As regards the former, the rigid scale-like pubescence 

 with which it is densely beset is sometimes unmixed with additional 

 erect hairs ; and this state, which is found at Maspalomas in the ex- 

 treme south of the island, is the "a" of my diagnosis (above referred 

 to) : at others the additional erect hairs are elongate and robust 

 (the " /3 " of my diagnosis, which occurs at Arguiniguin) : whilst oc- 

 casionally they are extremely long and fine — in which last predica- 

 ment it corresponds with the " y " indicated in my description ; and 

 this is the form which it assumes in sandy and calcareous places 

 around and above Las Palmas. And with respect to the arrange- 

 ment of its paler scales, it may be sufficient here to remark that the 

 two large transverse fasciae with which its elytra are adorned are 



r2 



