220 



PTINID^E. 



624. Ptinodes fragilis. 



Ptinus fragilis, Woll, Ins. Mad. 271 (1854). 

 , Id., Cat. Mad. Col. 92 (1857). 



Habitat Maderenses (P to S to , Des., Bugio), inter lichenes in rupium 

 fissuris crescentes latens. 



Likewise peculiar to the Madeiran Group, though hitherto it has 

 not been detected in Madeira proper. But in Porto Santo and on 

 the two southern Desertas (and we may expect it to occur on the 

 northern Deserta likewise) I have taken it in tolerable abundance, 

 from amongst the lichen which fills up the crevices of the exposed 

 rocks. From the very fragile nature of its (slender and abbreviated) 

 limbs, it requires considerable care to retain the specimens in a per- 

 fect state even when captured. 



Genus 198. PIARUS. 

 Wollaston, Trans. EnL.Soc. Lond. i. 209 (1862). 



625. Piarus basalis. 



Piarus basalis, WoU., loc. cit. 210, pi. viii. f. 7 (1862). 

 , Id., Cat. Can. Col. 243 (1864). 



Habitat Canarienses (Lanz., Fuert.\ sub lapidibus in apricis et prse- 

 cipue in stercore arido bovino, equino, camelino vulgaris. 



Abundant in certain districts (of low and intermediate elevations) 

 in Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, the two eastern islands of the Ca- 

 narian archipelago ; but it has not yet been detected elsewhere. 

 Like the Dignomus gracilipes, it usually secretes itself within the 

 dried dung of cattle in the most hot and dusty spots ; nevertheless 

 it occurs also beneath stones and scoriae. 



Genus 199. PIOTES. 

 Wollaston, Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. i. 211 (1862). 



626. Piotes inconstans. 



Piotes inconstans, WoU., loc. cit. 212, pi. viii. f. 8 (1862). 

 , Id., Cat. Can. Col. 243 (1864). 



Habitat Canarienses (Can.), sub lapidibus in aridis apricis necnon 

 sub cortice Euphorbiarum laxo minus frequens. 



A most variable insect, both in colour and pubescence, and which 

 has been taken hitherto only in Grand Canary, where it secretes 



