464 CANAEIAN COLEOPTERA. 



Hegeter amaroides, Bmlle, in Webb et Berth. (Col.) G4 (1838). 

 politus, Id., loc. cit. 65 (1838). 



Habitat in Teneriflfa, Gomera et Hierro, sub lapidibus vulgaris. 



This appears to be a very variable species, both in size and in its 

 more or less evidently sulcated elytra. The larger form, -which is 

 abundant around the Puerto Orotava in Teneriife, has the elytra 

 sometimes a little more elliptic and shining than in the ordinary 

 examples, and almost free from longitudinal furrows, thus manifestly 

 approaching the H. gJaher; but after comparing accurately an immense 

 series of specimens, I am quite unable to separate it from the smaller 

 and more typical state, into which it merges by imperceptible grada- 

 tions. Nevertheless that particular race is clearly identical with 

 M. Brulle's H. politus — as is evident both from his description and 

 from one of his two types (for the other seemed to me to be specifi- 

 cally different). The examples from Hierro are a little more sharply 

 punctulated than those from TenerifFe ; and the Gomeran ones have 

 their prothorax usually a trifle more bisinuated along the basal edge 

 and with the anterior angles perhaps somewhat more porrect. 



The H. amaroides may generally be known by its being consider- 

 ably smaller than the tristis, by its punctation (although very 

 minute) being a little more distinct, by its prothorax being a trifle 

 shorter and less quadrate (being for the most part rather narrower 

 in front than behind), by its elytra being perceptibly more oblong 

 (or less elliptic) and somewhat less coarsely sulcated, and by its Umbs 

 being relatively shorter. I have taken it, in profusion, in TenerifFe, 

 Gomera, and Hierro, in all three of which it was likewise found by 

 Mr. Gray ; whilst from the first it has also been communicated by 

 the Rev. R. T. Lowe, the Barao do Castello de Paiva, M. Hartung, 

 Dr. Crotch, and my late friend the Rev. "W". J. Armitage. I believe 

 that M. Solier's type is coincident with the smaller and more sul- 

 cated form, which is common about S^'' Cruz (and elsewhere) in 

 TenerifFe. The smallest state of all, however, which I have regarded 

 as the " var. (i,'" is somewhat peculiar, and possibly should have 

 been treated as a separate species. It is verT/ much smaller than 

 the ordinary phasis of the insect, and has its elytra quite simjile 

 (the sulci being obsolete). It has more the pnmd facie aspect of 

 the H. brevicollis ; but is more elliptic in outline, and when closely 

 inspected its prothorax will be seen to be differently shaped, and 

 the third joint of its antennae to be perceptibly longer. It was sent 

 from TenerifFe by the Barao do CasteUo de Paiva, and was caj)tured, 

 I believe, either at Arona or at Las Mercedes (probably the former). 



