CANAKIAN COLEOPTERA. 427 



two-thirds of the lateral margin (namely, from either shoulder to 

 bei/ond the middle — at which latter point the line curves inwards, 

 nearly parallel to the elytral margin itself, and joins the sutural stripe 

 at its extremity, i. e. immediately before the apex), all of which are 

 black. One of its principal aberrations is that indicated above (var./3), 

 in which merely the discal spot of each elytron is entirely absent 

 (the apical fascia remaining, at the same time, strongly expressed). 

 All the examples which I have as yet observed in Hierro belong to this 

 particular state ; and I may add that hitherto I have not detected it 

 in any of the other islands of the Group. In Palma, on the contrary, 

 the greater number of the specimens are highly decorated, the discal 

 patch being frequently enlarged so as to coalesce with either the 

 sutural or lateral stripe (or even with both of them). In the phasis 

 var. y its elytral markings are stiU further reduced — not merely the 

 discal patch being absent but also the subapical cloud-like fascia, and 

 the whole of the mai-ginal line except a smaU portion of it about the 

 middle. This variety is usually a trifle more coarsely punctulated, 

 and may perhaps be universal throughout the archipelago — though 

 the examples before me are merely from Fuerteventura, Grand Canary, 

 TeneriiFe, Gomera, and Palma. 



The S. canariensls is most closely allied to the Madeiran S. Du- 

 rantce; nevertheless it descends to a very much smaller bulk, and 

 the head, which in that species is pale in both sexes, is in the Cana- 

 rian one testaceous in the males only. The 8. Durantce, also, is a 

 trifle more densely and coarsely punctulated ; and the dark patch on 

 the posterior disc of each elytron is usually composed of two, con- 

 fluent ones— thus assuming the form of a fascia, and breaking up the 

 rufous space so as to cause the latter to have somewhat the prima 

 facie appearance of two detached reddish spots. 



655. Scymiius oblongior, n. sp. 



/S'. prsecedenti similis, sed paulo minor, oblongior, scnsim minus con- 

 vexus minusque crebre punctulatus, elytris paUidioribus (testaceis), 

 singulis macula parva obseura secunda (in disco antico posita) or- 

 natis. — Long. corp. lin. 1. 



Habitat in montibus excelsis TenerifFaj, usque ad 9000' s. m. as- 

 cendens. 



Considering the excessive variability of the 8. canariensis, I feel 

 a little doubtful whether I ought to regard the pi-esent Scymnus (of 

 which I have but two examples to judge from) as a state of that 

 insect peculiar to the loftiest elevations of Tencriffe, or as specifically 

 distinct. I believe, however, that the latter wiU be the safer course ; 



