CANAKIAN COLEOPTERA. 



545 



sufficiently distinguish it. I have observed it hitherto only in Lan- 

 zarote and Fuerteventura, especially the former — where it is not un- 

 common amongst the old Euphorbias (frequenting even their flowers) 

 on the Risco, in the extreme north of the island. 



822. Homalota clientula. 



IT. prsecedenti similis, sed paulo minus nitida (taincu vix alutacca), 

 densius pubeseens et multo crebrius punctata (punctis minoribus ac 

 levioribus) ; prothorace sensim latiore, angulis posticis vix omnino 

 obsoletis ; elytris deusissime subasperato-punctulatis ; autennis vix 

 longioribus et crassioribus. 



Varlat prothorace elytrisque aut fere nigris, aut fuscescentibus, aut 

 etiam clare rufo-ferrugineis. — Long. corp. lin. 1-1^. 



Homalota clientula, Erich., Gen. et Spec. Staph. 133 (1839). 



plebeia, Woll, Ins. Mad. 553 (1854). 



, Id, Cat. Mad. Col. 176 (1857). 



clientula, Kraatz, Nat. der Ins. Deutsch. ii. 322 (1858). 



Habitat insulas Canarienses, sub quisquiliis, in Gomcra sola adhuc 

 baud observata. 



Although extremely variable in the colour of their elytra and pro- 

 thorax (which, although sometimes ncai'ly black, are usually more or 

 less diluted in hue, and oecasionally of a cleaf rufo-ferruginous*), an 

 extensive series of specimens now before me seem all referable to a 

 single species, and that one (so far as I can judge) not differing from 

 the European H. clientula. Nevertheless there are many shades of 

 colouring, and some diversity of outline t, amongst the mass of indi- 

 viduals from which the above diagnosis has been compiled ; though, 

 in the details of their sculpture, and the shape and size of their ulti- 

 mate antennal joint (two of the main characters of the species), they 

 show but little tendency to variation. Assuming them therefore to 

 be all referable to the H. clientaJa, which I believe to be the case, I 

 may add that I have no doubt the insect is universal throughout 

 the archipelago — Gomera being the only island in which it does not 

 happen to have been observed. In the remaining six islands of the 

 Group I have myself captured it, more or less abundantlj^ ; and in 



* Erichson mentions a variety, found by Prof. Ehrenberg in Egypt, in whieii 

 the prot borax and elytra are rufo-testaeeoiis. 



t The difference of outline is perbaps more apparent than real, for tbe general 

 fades of these minute members of tbe StaphyUnidcB is marvellously dependent 

 upon the exact manner in which they liappen to be mounted for tbe cabinet. Thus, 

 in the species of tliis immediate type, in which tbe protborax is much rounded 

 behind, if the head is at all deflexcd tlie whole of the elytra are exposed, and ap- 

 pear consequently to be "well developed"; but if, on tbe contrary, tlie head is 

 by chance raised, the posterior edge of tbe pronotum slips over the base of the 

 elytra, and occasions tbe latter to seem (primii facie) as tho\igb unusually abbre- 

 viated. 



2s 



