185 
of the Stijlopiclce, and Eggs of Meloe. 
making their way through a transverse impression near the 
extremity of the upper side of the head of the larva of the 
Stijlops. In this manner, every one of the many larvae of the 
Slylops which I hoped to rear, perished. Anxious, however, to 
obtain more knowledge of this parasite, I opened the body of 
some of the bees which were thus attacked, so as to expose the 
moist and fleshy body of the larva of the Stijlops , when I was 
surprised to find the latter filled with these parasites in a most 
extraordinary number ; some, as though not sufficiently deve- 
loped, lying in an arched position, and others, nearer the head of 
the larva, struggling towards the place of exit above mentioned. 
The transparent skin of the larva permitting them to be clearly 
visible, I do not hesitate in stating, that there must have been far 
beyond a hundred individuals in each larva. In examining the 
interior of the abdomen of one of the bees, from between the 
segments of which the heads of two Stijlops larvae were exserted, 
I found a third larva, similarly attached, but entirely hidden 
within the abdomen of the bee, — a fact of some interest towards 
the natural history of the Stylops. These parasites reminded me 
most strongly of the parasite of the bee, which Mr. Kirby has 
described under the name of Pediculus melittce, and Dufour under 
that of Triungulinus andrenetarum. The body is long and flat- 
tened, rather narrowed towards the tail, which is furnished with 
two very long setae ; the head is semicircular and flat, with two 
dark patches at the posterior angles, of which, from the minute 
size of the animal, I could not ascertain the organization, but 
which evidently represent the eyes. For the same cause, I could 
not distinguish the structure of the antennae and mouth. Indeed 
I doubt whether the former exist at all in the insect ; the body is 
composed of thirteen segments, including the head, and excluding 
two small fleshy tubercles upon which the anal setae are placed. 
The first segment of the body is transverse, and applied closely 
in front to the posterior part of the head, so as to appear a portion 
of it, but easily distinguished by the dark line of separation. 
The remaining segments are transverse, but gradually smaller and 
shorter ; the posterior lateral angles of each being terminated by 
several short setae. The legs are six in number, about as long as 
the breadth of the body, and apparently composed of four pieces, 
the first short, and by which they are attached to the lateral 
under surface of the three anterior segments ; the second 
short, and armed on its anterior margin with several short but 
strong spines, the third and fourth of nearly equal length, the 
terminal one being dilated and fleshy at the tip, and not provided 
p 2 
