stables and outhouses. I t is quite nocturnal in its habits,
and may be occasionally captured prowling about the inside of
houses, especially near to a lighted stove or fire.
Zophobas, Blanch.
Z . c o n c o lo r , WolL—A long black Beetle, somewhat like the
Tenebrio, but more massive, and about five-sixths of an inch in
length. I t is rare, and found only in the houses in the town.
Farm. Mordellidce.
. Mordella, Linn.
*M. mellissiana, Woll.—This beautiful and gracefully-formed,
reddish-brown, armadillo-shaped Beetle, about a quarter of an inch
in length, is truly indigenous. I t is found only on the high land,
sometimes in decaying branches of trees, but generally at night in
houses, where, attracted by the light of a lamp, it is often seen
hopping about on the table-cloth at dinner-time.
Fam. Staphylinidw.
SUB -PAM . A L EO CH AR ID E S .
Homalota, Mann.
H . c o r i a r i a , Kr.—A very small black Beetle, about one-tentb of
an inch in length, with elytra much shorter than the body, common
about gardens on the high land, at an altitude of 2000 feet above
the sea. I t is a common European species, and has established
itself also in the Madeiran, Canarian, and Cape Verde archipelagos.
SUB -PAM . STAPHTXjIN ID E S .
Philonthus, Steph.
P . lo n g i c o r n i s , Steph.—A long black-bodied insect, about one-
third of an inch in length, with very short elytra or wing-covers,
common in flower-gardens and damp places on the high land, at an
altitude of 2000 feet above the sea. I took several specimens at The
Hermitage. Mr. Wollaston notes it as a common European
species, and says: “ I t is recorded from the Azores by Mr. Crotch j
and it has been captured abundantly by myself and others in the
Madeiran, Canarian, and Cape Verde archipelagos; and it was met
with by the late Mr. Bewicke even at Ascension.”
Creophilus, Steph.
C. m a x i l lo s u s , Linn.—Although this great creature, nearly an
inch in length, and in appearance something between a large Bee and
a Beetle, is rare, it is occasionally met with on the high land, particularly
in the neighbourhood of churchyards and cesspools. Mr.
Wollaston notes it as a common European species, which has also
become naturalized in the Azores, Madeiras, and Canaries.
SUB-PAM. X A N TH O L IN ID E S .
Xantholinus, Dahl.
X . morio, Woll.—Mr. Wollaston writes : “ The single example,
taken by Mr. Melliss, has been carefully examined by Mr. Bye, who
remarks that it is unknown to him, but might nevertheless perhaps
prove to be the European atratus of Heer. Judging from the
description, however, of that species, it would appear to be not only
smaller and blacker than the atratus, and with darker limbs, but
(as I imagine) to have its head more sparingly punctured, and the
dorsal punctures of its prothorax more numerous.”
SDB -FAM . OXYTEL1DES.
Oxytelus, Grrav.
O. alutaceifrons, Woll.—Of which Mr. Wollaston writes: “ An
Oxytelus which is in some respects allied to the European O. lutei-
pennis (and less so to the O. piceus), but at the same time differing
in many important respects from that species. I t has been examined
by Mr. Bye, who considers it totally distinct from anything with
which he is acquainted.”
O. nitidifrons, Woll.—Of which Mr. Wollaston writes: “ A
most extraordinary little Oxytelus, which, from its abbreviated head
and prothorax, and the fact of its antennse having the three apical
joints (rather, perhaps, than the usual seven) conspicuously
•thickened, might seem at first sight almost to merit generic
separation.”
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