of the Oil Beetle, Meloe. 299 



feed are in flower. Meloe proscarabceus and M. violaceus usually make their 

 first appearance at the end of March, but I have occasionally found the latter 

 as early as the 8th of that month. They are in greatest abundance during the 

 last ten days of March and the beginning of April. M. cicatricosus is from 

 ten days to a fortnight later than the other species. In other localities I have 

 not met with these insects quite so early, and there is reason to believe that 

 the time of their coming forth is much influenced by the temperature of the 

 atmosphere, and of the locality in which they undergo their transformations. 

 Goedart* speaks of M. proscarabceus as occurring in the beginning of May; 

 and this also is the period stated by DeGeerf, so that in the northern parts 

 of Europe they come forth later than in this country. 



When the Meloes first leave their cells they are feeble, move slowly, and 

 have their bodies very small, shrivelled, and contracted. But when they have 

 been feeding for a few days their bodies are greatly enlarged, and the abdomen 

 of the female is expanded to more than twice its original length and dia- 

 meter, owing to the immense quantity of ova within it in course of develop- 

 ment. In Meloe cicatricosus it often measures nearly an inch and a half in 

 length, and seems to be dragged along with much difliculty. 



The favourite food of Meloe is the wild ranunculus, or buttercup. Ra- 

 nunculus acris, more especially the blossoms, which it devours with avidity. 

 M. cicatricosus feeds also on the leaves and flowers of the dandelion. Taraxa- 

 cum. Goedart says they feed on the wood anemone. DeGeer found them 

 eat the leaves of dandelion with eagerness, but they would not touch straw- 

 berry-leaves, grass, cow-cress, alchemilla, or wild chervil. When deprived 

 for a few days of their proper food, and urged by hunger, they will sometimes 

 nibble blades of grass, but they cannot subsist on it, and soon perish. 



The Meloes are extremely fond of basking in the hot sunshine, and it is 

 during the early and middle part of the day that they come most abroad and 

 are most active. When confined in boxes, for the purpose of observing theic 

 habits, it is necessary to expose them much to the sun, and to supply them 

 with an abundance of food. They then become as active as when abroad in the 

 fields, and their proceedings are easily watched. They drink freely of water, 



* Metamorphoses Naturelles, ou Histoire des Insectes. A la Haye, 1700, 12mo, tom. ii. p. 180. 

 t M^moires pour I'Histoire des Insectes, tom. v. M6m. i. p. 3 et seq. 



VOL. XX. 2 R 



