464 STAPHYLINID^. 



1275. Homalota longula, 



Homalota longula (Chevrier), Heer, Fna Col. Helv. 334 (1841). 



thinobioides, Kraatz, in Stett, JEnt. Zeit. xv. 125 (1854). 



, Id., Nat. der Ins. Deutsch. ii. 228 (1856). 



, WoU., Cat. Mad. Col 175 (1857). 



longula, Id., Cat. Can. Col. 539 (1864). 



Habitat Maderenses (Mad.) et Canarienses (Lanz., Ten., Gom.~), inter 

 lapillos ad margines aquarum velocissime cursitans. 



This extremely narrow European Homalota is widely diffused ove 

 these Atlantic islands, where in all probability it will be found to be 

 nearly universal. It occurs amongst wet stones and shingle at the 

 edges of the streams and pools, principally at low and intermediate 

 altitudes. I have taken it in Madeira proper, as also in Lanzarote 

 and Teneriife of the Canarian Group ; and it was captured by 

 Messrs. Crotch in Gomera. 



1276. Homalota fragilis. 



Homalota frajyilis ?, Kraatz, in Stett. Ent. Zeit. xv. 125 (1854). 

 , Wall., Cat. Can. Col. 539 (1864). 



Habitat Canarienses (Ten., Gom., Palma), in locis similibus ac prae- 

 cedens. 



I cannot but feel doubtful whether the Canarian Homalota which 

 I have referred (perhaps incorrectly) to the European H. fragilis is 

 more, in reality, than one of the sexes of the preceding species. 

 Indeed the only distinguishing feature that I can detect to separate 

 it from the longula is its very much more sparingly punctured, and 

 rather more shining abdomen. Nevertheless, when viewed beneath 

 the microscope, this particular character is so exceedingly conspicuous 

 that, until evidence has been obtained that it is merely a sexual one, 

 I have no option but to treat the present insect as specifically distinct. 

 And that it cannot be any local state of the longula is evident from 

 the fact that it usually occurs in company with that species. 



I have taken this Homalota, amongst wet shingle at the edges of 

 the streams, in Teneriffe, Gomera, and Palma in the second of 

 which islands it was found likewise by the Messrs. Crotch. 



1277. Homalota palustris. 



Homalota palustris, Kiesw., in Stett. Ent. Zeit. v. 318 (1844). 



currens, WoU., Ins. Mad. 552 (1854). 



- palustris, Kraatz, Nat. der Ins. Deutsch. ii. 309 (1856). 

 f Woll, Cat. Mad. Col. 175 (1857). 



Habitat Maderenses (Mad.), in humidis intermediis vulgaris. 



