HELOPIDJE. 429 



ness an open one to be decided by each, naturalist, according to his 

 belief in the modifying effect of local influences on external form. 



1178. Helops gomerensis. 



Helops gomerensis, Woll., Append, huj. op. 64. 

 Habitat Canarienses (Gom.), a DD. Crotch sat copiose repertus. 



Taken in tolerable abundance, by the Messrs. Crotch, in Gomera 

 of the Canarian Group. As mentioned in the Appendix, it is closely 

 allied to the H. congener (and, I might have added, to the Madeiran 

 H. asper likewise) ; nevertheless I think it has too many distinctive 

 features of its own to be regarded as any insular state of even that 

 most variable species. 



1179. Helops congener. 

 Helops congener, Woll, Cat. Can. Col. 504 (1864). 



Habitat Canarienses (Can., Ten., Palma, Hierro), hinc inde prsecipue 

 in intennediis congregans. 



Widely spread over the Canarian archipelago, where it is found 

 principally at intermediate altitudes, and where it may be looked 

 upon strictly as the representative of the Madeiran H. asper (to which 

 it is very closely allied). Like that species it is extremely variable, 

 having a slightly different phasis for nearly every district in which 

 it occurs ; and on this account it is impossible to resist the inquiry 

 whether it may not, in reality, be but a Canarian modification of 

 the Madeiran insect. Yet, amidst its many fluctuations, it certainly 

 does possess secondary characters which serve practically to separate 

 it from the asper ; and, this being the case, I will not waste time in 

 attempting to speculate on the exact amount of importance which 

 we ought properly to attach to these (or any such) distinctions. 



1180. Helops carbunculus. 



Helops transversus ?, Brultt, in Webb et Berth. (Col.) 70 (1838). 



carbunculus, WolL, Ins. Mad. 519 (note) (1854). 



, Id., Cat. Can. Col. 505 (1864). 



Habitat Canarienses (Ten., Palma, Hierro), plerumque in inferioribus, 

 rarius in intermediis, degens. 



Widely spread over the central and western parts of the Canarian 

 Group, where it occurs principally at low (but sometimes at inter- 

 mediate) elevations. Like most of the other species it is extremely 



