from the Island of Ascension. 303 



Fam. Anobiadse. 



Genus Xyletinus. 

 Latreille, Regne Anim. (ed. 2) iv. 483 (1839). 



5. Xyletinus ferrugineus, n. sp. 



X. oblongus, rufo-ferrugineus, nitidus, dense flavo-cinereo-sericeus 

 et ubique (oculo fortiter armato) subtilissime puiictulatus ; pro- 

 thorace aiitice subtruncato, postice rotundato (angulis postice valde 

 rotundatis) ; elytris baud striatis ; antennis gracilibus, testaceis. 



Long. Corp. lin. vix 1^. 



Owing to the imperfect state of the three specimens of this 

 insect which were amongst Mr. Bewicke^s captures at Ascension, 

 I have been unable to examine their palpi and feet, and cannot 

 therefore pronounce for certain whether they are typical Xyletini, 

 or whether they should not rather be referred (as their posteriorly 

 rounded prothorax, subcylindric densely pubescent bodies, un- 

 striated elytra, and general aspect would lead me to suspect) to 

 that aberrant section of the group of which I have recorded * 

 four exponents from the Canary Islands. At any rate, whether 

 true Xyletini or not, I cannot identify them with any described 

 species, though it is far from impossible they may have been 

 elsewhere characterized, and were merely an accidental importa- 

 tion into Ascension. In external contour and hue they have 

 very much the appearance of my X. desectus from Grand Canary, 

 but are rather smaller, and more finely and closely punctulated 

 than that insect. 



Fam. Tomicidse. 



Genus Cryphalus. 

 Erichson, in Wiegm. Archiv, ii. 61 (1836). 



6. Cryphalus aspericollis, Woll. 



Cryphalus aspericollis, Woll., Ann. Nat. Hist. (ser. 3) v. 365 (1860). 



A single example of this very minute insect, which agrees 

 precisely t with the Madeiran and Canarian specimens, was found 

 by Mr. Bewicke at Ascension. I have no note relative to its 

 capture; but since Mr. Bewicke did not mention having searched 



* Vide pp. 13-15 of this volume. 



t The three minute joints (following the enlarged basal one) of the 

 funiculus of this species are so excessively small, that with my ordinary 

 microscope (although I had mounted carefully one of the antennae in 

 balsam) I could not detect more than two of them; and therefore, despite 

 the exact outward resemblance of the insect with examples from Madeira 

 and the Canaries, I somewhat hesitated in identifying it absolutely with 

 them. But on placing the object, lately, beneath the highest power of 

 the admirable instrument at the British Museum, these three infinitesimal 

 articulations came out at once clear and well-defined. 



