PTILIAD.E. 99 



does at Madeira beneath fallen leaves, and other vegetable refuse, 

 in sylvan and subsylvan spots. It has been taken hitherto in Grand 

 Canary, Teneriffe, Gomera, and Hierro ; but it is somewhat remark- 

 able that it has not yet been observed in Palrna, in which island it 

 appears to be represented by the A. Matthewsii. 



The present Acrotrichis is closely allied to the European A. fasci- 

 cularis with which, indeed, in my Canarian Catalogue I identified 

 it, and of which even Mr. Matthews then thought that it should be 

 regarded as a geographical variety. A more careful inspection, how- 

 ever, of a greater number of examples, in all of which he found its 

 small peculiarities to be quite persistent, induced him to believe that 

 it is truly distinct from that species ; and he therefore described it 

 under the trivial name of Wollastoni*. 



277. Acrotrichis Crotchii. 



Trichopteryx Crotchii, Math., in Ent. Month. Mag. i. 248 (April 1864). 

 Acrotrichis Crotchii, Woll., Append, huj. op. 15. 



Habitat Canarienses (6r0m.), a DD. Crotch parcissime deprehensa. 



A brownish species, allied to the fenestrata, Gillm., five examples 

 of which were taken by the Messrs. Crotch in Gomera, during their 

 late Canarian campaign. In all probability, therefore, it is scarce. 



278. Acrotrichis sericans. 



Trichopteryx sericans, Heer,Fna Helv. i. 374 (1841). 



depressa, Gillm., in Sturm, D. F. xvii. 51 (1845). 



Acrotrichis sericans, Woll., Cat. Can. Col. 104 (1864). 



Habitat Canarienses (Can., Ten., Gom., Hierro) inter quisquilias, 

 passim. 



The European A. sericans occurs rather sparingly in the Canarian 

 Group, where, however, it is widely diffused. It has been taken in 

 Grand Canary, Teneriffe, Gomera, and Hierro. 



279. AcrotricMs Montandonii. 



Trichopteryx Montandonii, Allib., in Rev. Zool. 51 (1844). 

 similis, Gillm., in Sturm, D. F. xvii. 53 (1845). 



* In a letter now before me, written immediately after his final examination 

 of these Atlantic Ptiliadce, Mr. Matthews makes the following remark concerning 

 the A. Wollastoni: "I think that this species must stand: there is an immense 

 series of it, varying somewhat in primd facie appearance, but (so far as I can 

 see) inseparable. You will observe that the same long yellow antennae, and the 

 same superficial sculpture, obtain throughout the whole of them. The variation 

 of shape is mainly sexual, and can be traced gradqtim ; indeed often it is only 

 apparent, owing to the peculiar position of the individual specimen." 



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