218 



PTINID^E. 



of the Canarian Group, where it may be regarded as the representa- 

 tive of the Madeiran IS. pinguis*. 



618. Sphsericus orbatus. 



Ptinus orbatus, Wott., Ins. Mad 264, tab. v. f. 6 (1854). 

 , Id., Cat. Mad. Col. 90 (1857). 



Habitat Maderenses (Mad.}, in ligno antique semel lectus. 



Found in Madeira proper, and hitherto unique ; but, apart from 

 all other characters, the sculpture of its elytra is so peculiar (the 

 punctures being enormous, and very remote, though not particularly 

 deep) that it is impossible to confound it, even in the absence of 

 further specimens to judge from, with any of the other Sphcerici 

 here enumerated. 



619. Sphaericus nodulus. 



Ptinus nodulus, Wall., Ins. Mad. 265 (1854). 

 , Id., Cat. Mad. Col. 90 (1857). 



Habitat Maderenses (P to S to \ inter lapillos et lichenes in rupium fis- 

 suris saltern tempore hiemali latens. 



Found in Porto Santo of the Madeiran Group, where it occurs 

 (along with the S. albopictus, though much more rarely) amongst 

 lichen, and adhering to small stones, within the crevices of the ex- 

 posed weather-beaten rocks, at intermediate and rather lofty eleva- 

 tions. 



620. Sphsericus Dawsoni. 



Ptinus Dawsoni, WolL, Ins. Mad. 263, tab. v. f. 5 (1854). 

 1 id., Cat. Mad. Col. 90 (1857). 



Habitat Maderenses (Des., Bugio), sub lapidibus necnon inter liche- 

 nes in rupium fissuris nascentes rarissimus, 



A large and beautiful Splicericus which I have observed only on 

 the two southern Desertas, in the Madeiran Group, where moreover 

 it is of the greatest rarity. Like most of the species it may be found 

 secreting itself beneath stones in high and exposed spots, or harbour- 

 ing amongst lichen within the crevices of the weather-beaten rocks. 



* The impunctipennis, when denuded of its scales, will be seen to have its pro- 

 thorax much more roughly scabrous than is the case with the pinguis, whilst its 

 elytra (which are a little more oblong, or less globular, and not quite so opake) 

 have indications of very minute and obsolete granules scattered over their surface 

 (particularly behind), of which I cannot detect any traces in that insect. The 

 Canarian species, also, is probably (on the average) a little larger ; and its limbs 

 are more elongate, the subapical joints of its antennae being conspicuously less 

 abbreviated. 



