494 



STAPHYLINID^:. 



only in Madeira proper and in Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Teneriffe, 

 and Gomera, of the Canarian Group. Its detection in Gomera is 

 due to the researches of the Messrs. Crotch. 



III. Prothoracis seriebus dorsalibus epunctis 6 compositis. 



1362. Philonthus simulans. 



Philonthus simulans, Wott., Cat. Mad. Col 190 (1857). 

 , Id., Cat. Can. Col. 574 (1864). 



Habitat Maderenses (Mad.} et Canarienses (Can., Ten., Gom., Palma, 

 Hierro}, in intermediis humidis sylvaticis, prsesertim lauretis, 

 late diffusus. 



Widely spread over the sylvan districts both of the Madeiran and 

 Canarian Groups, being more particularly common in the damp laurel- 

 woods of intermediate and rather lofty elevations. It occurs beneath 

 stones, fallen leaves, and decaying vegetable refuse, but not (so far 

 as I have yet observed) in watery places by the edges of the streams, 

 as is so frequently the case with its near ally the P. nigritulus. It 

 has been taken in Madeira proper, and in all the Canarian islands 

 except the two eastern ones (Lanzarote and Fuerteventura). In 

 Gomera its discovery is due to the Messrs. Crotch, who found it 

 abundantly in the laurel-region above Hermigua. I have remarked 

 that it has a somewhat curious habit, when captured, of counterfeit- 

 ing death by bending its head against its prosteruum, and partially 

 curving its abdomen downwards (like a Xanfholinus) a peculiarity 

 which I have never yet detected in the P. nigritulus. 



1363. Philonthus nigritulus. 



Staphylinus nigritulus et aterrimus, Grav., Col. Micropt. 41 (1802). 

 Philonthus aterrimus, Woll., Ins. Mad. 584 (1854). 



nigritulus, Id., Cat. Mad. Col. 191 (1857). 



, Id., Cat. Can. Col. 574 (1864). 



Habitat Maderenses (Mad., P to S to ) et Canarienses (Lanz., Can., Ten., 

 Gom., Palma), sub quisquiliis necnon inter lapillos ad margines 

 aquarum vulgaris. 



The P. nigritulus, so common throughout Europe, is doubtless 

 universal (or nearly so) in these Atlantic Groups where it abounds 

 beneath vegetable refuse, as well as under stones at the edges of the 

 streams and pools. It has been taken in Madeira proper and Porto 

 Santo, as well as in all the Canarian islands except Fuerteventura 

 and Hierro occurring at most elevations, and not (like the P. simu- 

 lans) only at intermediate and lofty ones. 



