STAPHYLINID^. 507 



Two examples only of this very distinct LitJiocharis, which (judging 

 from the published description) I have little doubt is conspecific with 

 Erichson's L. nigritula from Sicily, have as yet come beneath my 

 notice. They were taken by myself, at a low elevation, in Teneriffe 

 amongst wet shingle (in company with the Scopceus trossukti) at 

 the edge of a small pool in the Barranco Santo, near S ta Cruz. 



1400. Lithocharis tricolor. 



Staphylinus tricolor, Mshm, Ent. Brit. 516 (1802). 



Lithocharis melanocephala, Woll. [nee Fab.^ Ins. Mad. 591 (1854). 



, Id., Cat. Mad. Col. 194 (1857). 



, Id., Cat. Can. Col. 588 (1864). 



Habitat Maderenses (in Hheo Cliao sola haud observata) et Cana- 

 rienses (ins. omnes), vulgaris. 



One of the most universal of the Staphylinidce throughout these 

 Atlantic Groups, where it occurs independent of elevation though 

 principally in the intermediate districts. I have myself captured it 

 in all the Madeiran islands except the northern Deserta, as well as 

 in the whole seven of the Canarian archipelago. Hitherto I have 

 identified it with the common European L. melanocephala ; but a 

 recent comparison of it with types of that insect and of the closely 

 allied tricolor, which have been communicated by Mr. Rye, has con- 

 vinced me that it is better referred to the latter, its longer elytra, 

 in conjunction with its less coarse and rather dense punctation, being 

 more in accordance with what obtains in that species than with the 

 true melanocephala. It is a variable insect, not only in colour but 

 even in the greater or less development of its elytra ; and therefore 

 I do not lay much stress upon the fact that the latter are, on the 

 average, just perceptibly larger in the Atlantic examples than is the 

 case in the ordinary ones of more northern latitudes. 



1401. Lithocharis brevipennis. 



Lithocharis brevipennis, Woll., Cat. Can. Col. 589 (1864). 



Habitat Canarienses (Ten., 6rom.), plerumque in montibus valde ex- 

 celsis occurrens. 



Found sparingly in the higher altitudes of the Canarian Group, 

 where it ascends to more than 9000 feet above the sea. I have 

 taken it in Teneriffe (on the Cumbre overlooking the Cafladas), and 

 it was met with by the Messrs. Crotch both in that island and 

 Gomera. Although I do not believe that it is any extreme modifi- 



