of the Oil Beetle, Melon. 301 



turned round, projected her body into it, and remained with her head just per- 

 ceptible at the entrance. In this state she continued undisturbed for several 

 hours ; and when I again visited the spot I found the entrance closed up with 

 earth, and the Meloe gone. On examining the hole I discov^ered within it a 

 small packet of eggs. I then placed some earth and a turf of grass in my 

 breeding-cage, in which I had confined several impregnated females. On the 

 following day I observed a female M. violaceus in the act of digging a hole 

 beneath the turf sufficiently large to admit of her turning round. The depth 

 of the hole when finished was about two inches. When she had completed her 

 labour, she projected her body into the hole as far as possible, and remained 

 within it, with her head only exposed, for about two hours. During this time, 

 as in the previous observation, the Meloe was in the act of oviposition. When 

 she had completely disburthened herself she came forth, and raked the earth 

 with her feet into the hole, until she had entirely closed the entrance. While 

 thus employed she scratched with her claws, and moved backwards like a 

 rabbit in its burrow, and frequently pulled down with the earth small fibres 

 of the roots of grass, which I then supposed were intended to serve as food for 

 the future larvae, a supposition which was afterwards proved to be erroneous. 



When the Meloe had completed her labour, I removed the turf, and found 

 the eggs deposited beneath it in a large closely-packed heap. I then placed 

 them in a tin box and covered them lightly with earth to watch their deve- 

 lopment. This was on the afternoon of the 8th of April 1830. Since that 

 period I have had many opportunities of observing diflferent species of Meloe 

 deposit their eggs, which they always conceal in little burrows, excavated for 

 the purpose among the roots of a turf of grass, in a dry soil, and seldom at a 

 greater depth than two inches. Those specimens which I have seen at liberty 

 in their native haunts have usually made their burrows near a dry footpath, 

 or in some situation exposed to the sun. 



Thus, by confining the sexes in a large box, partly filled with earth and a 

 turf of grass, placed in the sun and well-supplied with food and water, I have 

 been enabled to obtain an abundance of ova from every species for investi- 

 gation, and from all of them little hexapod larvee have invariably been deve- 

 loped in from three to five or six weeks, according to circumstances, which I 

 shall presently explain. 



2 r2 



