596 CAXAEIAN COLEOPTERA. 



abdominis segmento sexto subtus in medio obsolete subtriangulari- 

 ter elevato, septirao prodncto rotundato. — Long. corp. lin. Ij-l^. 



Platysthetus spinosus?, Erich., Gen. et Spec. Staph. 784 (1839). 



fossor, Wall, Ins. Mad. 003 (1854). 



, Id., Cat. Mad. Col. 199 (1857. 



Habitat in humidis lutosis Lanzarotae et Teneriffse, minus frequens. 



Although (from description and I'ecollection) I believe this Platy- 

 stethus to be certainly identical with the Madeiran P. fossor*, I think 

 it far from imjirobable that it may also coincide with Erichson's 

 spinosus — in which case the latter name will have the priority. 

 Nevertheless, as I have no type of the sjJinosus to judge from, and 

 Erichson's diagnosis of it makes no allusion to several important 

 features (as, for instance, the tivo teeth on either side of the impres- 

 sion on the seventh abdominal segment of the males, and the dis- 

 appearance of the sulci on the head of the opposite sex) which are 

 conspicuous in the fossor, I do not think it would be safe, without 

 further evidence, to treat it as conspecific with the sjnnosiis. From 

 the cornutm it may be known by its smaller size, more shining and 

 rather more sparingly punctured surface (which is free from the 

 minutely alutaceous sculpture which is always present in that insect) , 

 by its darker elytra (which are either entii-ely black or else pieescent 

 — but never with the disc actually testaceous), by its somewhat paler 

 legs, and by the last joint of its antennae beiiig more elongated or 

 oblong. Its male sex, also, recedes from the cormdus in having either 

 side of its head (above the eyes) branded with two irregular sulci ; 

 though, as in that species, it is armed at each anterior angle with an 

 exceedingly acute porrect spine (which, however, is smaller and less 

 conspicuous than is the case in the cormctus). The few examples 

 which I have seen from these islands were taken by mj-self — around 

 Haria in the north of Lanzarote, and close to the Puerto Orotava in 

 Teneriffe. 



Genus 334. OXYTELUS. 

 Gravenhorst, Col Micropt. 101 (1802). 



915. Ox3rtelus piceus. 



Staphylinus picens, Linn.f, Si/st. Nat. i. ii. G80 (1767). 

 Ox^lelus piceus, Erich., Gen. et Spec. Staph. 788 (1839). 



* I should state, however, that tlie few Canarian examples now before me are 

 on the average rather larger than the Madeiran ones, and have their mandibles 

 less conspicuously cleft at tlie apex ; but as the Plafysfethi generally are emi- 

 nently variable in stature, and the mandibles ai-e the least stable of their oral 

 organs, I do not lay much stress upon this twofold fact. 



f Although this common Oxi/telits has always been identified with the Staphy- 

 linus piceus of the 'Systema Naturi¥,' I believe that Mr. M'aterhouse has lately 



