MADEIRAN COLEOPTERA. 87 
233. Melyrosoma abdominale, n. sp. 
M. nigrum et pilis nigris longissimis mollibus suberectis vestitum, 
capite prothoraceque leviter subruguloso-subpunctatis, elytro sin- 
gulo costis tribus longitudinaliter instructo, interstitis profunde 
erebre et rugose subseriatim punctatis, abdomine longiore (an 
potius elytris minus ampliatis) coleopteris paulo superanti. 
Var. B. [an species?] minus pilosum, prothorace yix distinctius sed 
elytris paulo magis rugose sculpturatis. 
Long. corp. lin. vix 12. 
M. smaller and less robust than the MW. oceantcum, but larger and 
more robust than the Artemisiw, deep black, and beset with an 
exceedingly long, fine, nearly erect and dark pile. Head and 
prothorav less distinctly roughened and punctured than in either 
of the other species. Hlytra sculptured as in the M. Artemisie,— 
the punctures being a little coarser, and somewhat more disposed 
in longitudinal rows, than those of the oceanicum. Mesosternwm 
more deeply channeled down the centre than that of the oceanicum, 
and more narrowly and minutely cleft (or bifid) at its hinder apex, 
and appearing beneath the microscope (from its being perhaps 
somewhat less inflexed between the posterior coxee) more evidently, 
as it were, bicuspid. -Abdomen rather longer than in either of the 
other species (or, perhaps, more strictly, the elytra somewhat 
shorter), its apex being perceptibly visible from above,—whereas 
in the M. oceanicum and Artemisiw the elytra far surpass it in 
length. Antenne a little longer and slenderer than those of the 
M. oceanicum (a trifle longer perhaps than even those of the Arte- 
misic), and with their apical joint less robust; their base, and the 
tarsi, almost as dark as the rest of the surface. 
Var. 3. less densely, and more shortly, pilose; and with the pro- 
thorax a little more evidently sculptured, but with the elytra 
somewhat less so, 
A single specimen (which is now in the British Museum) of this 
very distinct Melyrosoma was detected by myself on the Ilheo de 
Fora (the isolated extremity of the Ponta Sio Lourengo of Madeira 
proper) on the 23rd of May 1855. As will be perceived from the 
above description, it partakes of the respective characters of both of 
the other species; nevertheless in general aspect and hue (though 
not in the long and suberect pile with which it is clothed) it has 
more in common with the MW. oceanicum than with the Artemisic. 
It would appear however, like the latter, to occur at a low elevation, 
—in which respect it differs from the former, which attains its 
maximum on the mountain tops, and which I have captured in pro- 
fusion on the extreme summit of the Pico Ruivo (more than 6000 feet 
above the sea). 
The var. B was taken by Mr. Leacock, who found a single example 
