CANAKIAN colt;opter\. 375 



and near Valverde in Hierro — in the last of which islands, as well . 

 as in Gomera, it was found likewise by Mr. Gra3\ In TeneriiFe it 

 was met with also by Dr. Crotch, who informs me that it is called 

 "San Pedro" by the inhabitants. 



572. Sitones latipennis. 



Sitones latipennis, ScJtdn., Gen. et Spec. Cure. ii. 99 (1834). 

 Sitona verrucosa* P, Brulle, in Webb et Berth. {Col.) 72 (1838). 



latipennis, WoU., Ins. Mad. 404 (1854). 



, /(/., Cat. Mad. Col. 119 (1857). 



Habitat in intermediis Canariae et TeneriiFae, ad folia Genlstce degens. 



This insect, which is common on the Genista scoparia in Madeira, 

 occurs likewise, though less abundantly, at the Canaries — where it 

 is found on the same shrub, as also on the Spanish Broom, at inter- 

 mediate elevations. I have taken it on the hills at Osorio in Grand 

 Canary, and outside the wood of Las Mercedes in TeneriflFe. The 

 specimens from these islands differ from the Madeii'an ones in being 

 rather more densely and ivhitely scaly, and in the pile with which 

 their elytra are additionally studded being both longer and much 

 more erect. I am satisfied, however, that this peculiarity of their 

 clothing is merely a geographical one, and does not indicate a sepa- 

 rate, closely allied, species ; for although the generality of the Cana- 

 rian examples are furnished on their elytra with these erect elongate 

 hairs, still the length of the pubescence varies consiclerahhj (even in 

 the same locality), so that in some individuals it is as short as in 

 those from Madeira. Moreover I have already shown, in several in- 

 stances, how variable a character the pilosity is apt to become, under 

 particular circumstances — as in the case of the Piotes inconstans of 

 the Ptinidce, and as in the genus Herpysticus (already noticed) of the 

 present family. I conclude therefore that, all other particulars being 

 the same, this tendency of the pubescence to be more developed in the 

 Canaries than at Madeira is a fact of some local interest but without 

 any specific signification. 



573. Sitones punctiger. 



S. oblongus, niger, squamis griseis et cinereis variegatus setisque pili- 

 formibus demissis obsitus ; cajjite prothoraceque profunde rugoso- 



* I have little doubt that M. Brulle's *S. verrucosa was established on a small 

 example of this variable insect. At any rate the few and imimportant particulars 

 to which he calls attention are, all of them, those which belong to the S. latipennis, 

 except the one in which he says " le troisieme intervalle des stries est petit de sa 

 nature et un pen plus eleve que les autres" ; but since the whole of his descri])- 

 tions which I have yet had an opportunity of testing are wanting in accuracy, I 

 am not di9)')osed to lay nnich stress upon this character. 



