IN SECT A. 
151 
to the size of the insect, than in any of the other members of the 
genus which have hitherto been brought to light.” 
*M. lucifugus, Woll. — A stout Beetle, a quarter of an inch in 
length, less glossy than some of the others, and passing from black 
to a dull red in colour. It is certainly the most abundant species of 
this genus, and occurs plentifully in the stems of exotic plants as 
well as of the native gobblegheer {Psoralen pinnatct) and rosemary 
( Phylica rosmarinifolia), at an altitude of 2000 feet above the sea. 
*M. terebrans, Woll. — A species undoubtedly rare at the 
present time, since I failed to meet with it. It was captured at St. 
Helena by the late Mr. Bewicke in 1860, and Mr. Wollaston says 
of it : “ In its brassy hue and shining surface it recedes from the 
preceding members of the group, and assimilates those which follow; 
but the fact of its tibiae being simple will at once separate it from 
the whole of the latter except the M. obi iter at us and debilis. Apart, 
however, from its different outline, and perhaps rather less intensely 
brassy tinge, it may be known from both of these by its larger size 
and by being altogether more coarsely and closely punctured. Its 
elytral striae, moreover, are deeper at their extreme base, and have 
the appearance at first sight of short divergent grooves.’ 
*M. obliteratus, Woll. — A short, thick, ovate, highly-polished 
black Beetle, in general appearance somewhat resembling M. coni- 
collis, but it is not found so abundantly in the Island. 
^M. debilis, Woll. — A very shiny black species, about the same 
length as the last, viz., one-eighth of an inch, but much thinner ; 
taken from the cabbage-trees and ferns on the high land near 
Diana’s Peak. 
an {Justus, Woll. — Mr. Wollaston describes this as lather 
larger than the last species, “ and also relatively longer, narrower, 
and more cylindrical, the elytra (instead of being considerably 
rounded outwards behind the middle) being very little expanded 
at the sides.” It also inhabits the indigenous plants on the high 
land, 
*M. cossonoides, Woll.— This large, very shiny black Beetle, 
taken from the native cabbage-trees on the highest land near 
Diana’s Peak, is about one-third ot an inch in length, and not iery 
abundant. Mr. Wollaston writes of it : “ The comparatively gigantic 
size and elongated rostrum and limbs of this line Microxylobius 
would of themselves suffice to distinguish it from every other 
