334 CANAEIAN COLEOPTERA. 



tural character of considerable importance. In minor particulars, 

 the Canarian insect has its elytra perhaj)S a trifle more expanded be- 

 hind the middle than is the case in the Spanish species which it most 

 nearly resembles ; and their nodules, formed by the interrupted al- 

 ternate ridges, at that particular point, are, if anything, somewhat 

 more developed ; whilst their apex itself is a little more drawn in, or 

 suddenly shortened. 



The R. hrevitarsis seems to be confined to Lanzarote and Fuerte- 

 ventura, where it is far from imcommon — occurring beneath stones 

 and scorice in arid places, particularly sandj- ones of a low elevation. 

 Under such circumstances it was taken sparingly by Mr. Gray and 

 myself in Lanzarote, during January 1858 ; in which island, however, 

 I captured it much more plentifully during March of the following- 

 year — in submaritime spots between Arrecife and Yaiza, as well as 

 at Papagayo in the extreme south : and 1 like'oise met with it a few 

 weeks later, in equal abundance, at the edges of the coast-road, to the 

 north of Puerto de Cabras, in Puerteventura ; and, more sparingly, 

 in the little island of Lobos in the Bocayna Strait. It is very gre- 

 garious, often congregating in clusters beneath a single stone. 



(Subfam. BRACHYCEPIDES.) 



Genus 211. BRACHYCERUS. 



Fabricius, Sijst. Elm. ii. 412 (1801). 



524. Brachycerus opacus, n. sp. 



J5.niger,opacus,valdeinaxiualis; capiteprothoracequeparcissime])unc- 

 tatis variolisque maximis notatis, illo supra oculos singulos altissirae 

 lobato (lobo alterum, minorem sod sat magnum, retrorsum ]ii-o- 

 ductum, ad basin rostri situm, attingcnte), hoc ad latera in medio 

 acute angulato necnon per discum plicis duabus maximis altis loii- 

 gitudinaliter instructo, postice inter plicas obsolete carinato, antice 

 utrin(]ue late impresso ; elytris subquadratis, grosse transversim 

 plicato-nodosis, in disco singulorum necnon in limbo plica altiore 

 grosse dentata serrato-rugatis. — Long. corp. Un. 7. 



Habitat in montibus Lanzarotae borealis, semel tantum captus. 



The unique specimen from which the above diagnosis has been com- 

 piled, and which was captured, during March 1859, on the hills above 

 Haria, in the north of Lanzarote, differs from every Brachycerus with 

 which I am acquainted in its entirely opake body (even when de- 

 nuded of tlie mud-like scales with which it is a good deal clothed) ; 

 by its excessively %ineven surface (the elytra being densely beset with 

 very elevated transversely-subconfluent nodules, or undulated 'plicft;. 



