210 Mr. T. Vernon Wollaston on the 



elytra to be ornamented with much the same kind of dentate 

 fascise (formed by paler scales), the insect from which the above 

 structural formula has been drawn possesses so much in common 

 with the Piotes inconstans from Grand Canary that, until critically 

 examining it, I could scarcely believe that it was not a closely- 

 allied member of the same genus. Nevertheless since it is totally 

 free from the chief characteristics of that group (namely the im- 

 mensely developed first-joint of the hinder male-feet, and the 

 more or less nodose-costate prothorax), and since also the base of 

 its elytra has no appearance whatsoever of the stronger and denser 

 setae and the obsolete ridges which are more or less indicated in 

 Piotes (and carried to an excess in Casapiis), whilst its scutellum 

 is more evidently developed and its mandibles are much less 

 sharply toothed, and more obliquely truncated at their apex, than 

 is there the case, I have no alternative but to regard it as gene- 

 rically distinct. In minor details, moreover, the upper-lip of 

 Piarus is less pilose, and not so deeply emarginate, as that of 

 Piotes; and the shoulder-like process of its maxillary stipes is 

 squarer and more obtuse. 



From Nilpus and Sphcericus (with which in some respects it 

 might be associated) Piarus differs mainly in the larger size and 

 strongly pilose surface of the insect which represents it; as well 

 as in its distinct scutellum, its very much less shortened penulti- 

 mate abdominal segment, and its less acutely dentate, and more 

 obliquely-truncated mandibles. 



12. Piarus hasalis, n. sp. (PI. VIII. fig. 7.) 



P. niger vel piceo-niger ; capite sat dense flavescenti-cinereo- 

 squamoso ; prothorace densissime granulato- (vel tubercu- 

 lato-) asperato et setulis fuscis suberectis dense obsito ; ely- 

 tris ovalibus, striato-punctatis, subnitidis, pilis rigidis erectis 

 elongatis dense obsitis et fasciis duabus [sc. basali magnd 

 conspicua dentata et sub-apicali parva fractd ssepius obso- 

 lete] flavescenti-abidis ornatis ; antennis pedibusque robustis, 

 ferrugineis, squamosis. 



Long. corp. lin. 1 — \\. 



Habitat ins. Lanzarotam et Fuerteventuram, hinc inde vulgaris : 

 in stercore arido bovino, equino, camelino (una cum Notiomimo 

 Jimicold et caeteris degens) latitat. 



Apart from its ^e«mc characters already alluded to, the present 

 insect is conspicuous amongst the other Ptinidce here described by 

 the long and erect hairs with which it is densely clothed, by its dark 



