HYDROPHILID.E. 77 



cannot think that they are the exponents of more than a slight 

 insular modification of the L. punctatus*. 



Genus 63. LACCOBIUS. 

 Erichson, Kaf. der Mark Brand, i. 202 (1837). 



231. Laccobius minutus. 



Chrysomela minuta, Linn., Fna Suec. 166 (1761). 

 Laccobius minutus, WolL, Ins. Mad. 95 (1854). 



, Id., Cat. Mad. Col. 31 (1857). 



, Id., Cat. Can. Col. 90 (1864). 



Habitat Maderenses (Mad., P to S to ) et Canarienses (in Hierro sola 

 adhuc hand observatus), in aquis et aquosis vulgaris. 



This common European insect would seem to exist in nearly all 

 parts of these Atlantic Groups where water is to be found, though 

 the absence of streams and pools from some of the smaller islands 

 (at any rate during the greater part of the year) renders it doubtful 

 whether it will ever be met with quite universally. In Madeira 

 proper and Porto Santo it is locally abundant ; whilst at the Canaries 

 it has been detected in all the seven islands except Hierro (though 

 even there probably there are places sufficiently moist for its 

 occurrence). 



Genus 64. PHILHYDRUS. 

 Solier, Ann. de la Soc. Ent. de France, iii. 315 (1834). 



232. Philhydrus melanocephalus. 



Hydrophilus melanocephalus, Oliv., Ent. iii. 39. 14 (1795). 



, BrulU, in Webb et Berth. (Col} 58 (1838). 

 Philhydrus melanocephalus, WolL, Ins. Mad. 98 (1854). 



, Id., Cat. Mad. Col. 32 (1857). 



, Id., Cat. Can. Col. 91 (1864). 



Habitat Maderenses (P to S to ) et Canarienses (Lanz., Fuert., Can., 

 Ten., Grom.), in aquis et aquosis hinc inde vulgaris. 



Almost as common, both throughout Europe and in these Atlantic 

 islands, as the Laccobius minutus. At the Madeiran Group, however, 

 I have observed it hitherto only in Porto Santo, though we may 

 expect it to occur in Madeira proper likewise. But at the Canaries 



* I would, however, just record this Gomeran Limnobius in the following short 

 formula, since it is not impossible that further material may prove it to be spe- 

 cifically distinct from the L. punctatus of Teneriffe : Var. (3. similis. Suban- 

 gustior, oblongior (minus obovatus), punctis omnibus (oculo fortissimo armato) 

 paulo subtilioribus. 



