554 CANARIAN COLEOPTERA. 



838. Aleochara binotata. 



Aleocliara binotata, Kraatz, Nat. der Ins. Deutsch. ii. lOG (1850). 

 , Woll, Cat. Mad. Col. 182 (1857). 



Habitat in Lanzarota, Fuerteventura, Canaria ct Gomera, una cum 

 specie praecedente degens. 



I am not at all satisfied that the A. binotata of Kraatz is truly 

 distinct from the nitida ; for although it is not difficult to identify 

 extreme specimens of each, it is occasionally next to impossible to 

 assign the intermediate ones, with any certainty, to their supposed 

 types ; and, indeed, I am far from convinced that some of my examples 

 are not completely osculant between the two. Nevertheless, since 

 some of their characters may perhaps have escaped me, and there 

 can be no question that normal individuals are easily separable, I 

 will not venture to amalgamate the species. Typically the A. bi- 

 notata may be defined as, on the average, smaller than the nitida 

 (though both do occasionally descend to a very minute stature), 

 with its punctation just appreciably stronger, its rufescent elytral 

 spot larger and more suffused, and its antennae shorter (though the 

 last feature is a somewhat deceptive one on account of the slight 

 difference in length exhibited by the sexes of both insects). The 

 fact, too, of their being nearly always found in company would not 

 militate against the supposition that they are but states assumed by 

 a single species. I have taken the A. binotata in Lanzarote, Fuerte- 

 ventura, Grand Canary, and Gomera (in the last of which it was 

 found likewise by Dr. Crotch) ; but the specimens from Lanzarote 

 and Fuerteventiira are, I think, the most typical ones. It occurs 

 in Porto Santo of the Madeiran Group. 



839. Aleochara morion. 



Aleochara morion, 6rai:, Col. Ilicropt. 07 (1802). 



, Urich., Gen. et Spec. Staph. 175 (18:39). 



, JVolL, Ins. Mad. 501 (1854). 



, Id., Cat. Mad. Col. 183 (1857). 



Habitat Teueriff'am, Gomeram et Palmam, minus frequens. 



The minute size, fusiform outline, and dark, concolorous, very 

 slightly shining surface of this common European Aleochara wiU 

 sufficiently distinguish it. As at Madeira, it occurs sparingly in 

 these islands — where most probably it is universal. Hitherto, how- 

 ever, I have observed it only at the Agua Mansa and Las Mercedes 

 of Teneriffe, and in Palma ; but three examples are now before me 

 which were captured in Gomera by Dr. Crotch (who likewise met 

 with it in Tenerift'e). 



