of the Oil Beetle, Meloé. 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 Meloé gone. On examining the hole I discovered 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 JM. 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 Meloé was in the act of oviposition. When 
she had completely disburthened herself she came fortli, 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 Meloé 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 different species of Meloë 
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 ina 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 larvae have invariably been deye- 
loped in from three to five or six weeks, according to circumstances, which I 
shall presently explain. 
2R2 
