94 HETEROMERA, [ Melo? 
Linnean Society, vol. xx.; a figure of the young larva of M. cicatri- 
cusus is given by Chapuis et Candéze (Larves des Colécptéres, pl. vii. 
fig. 6), and of this same or another species by Westwood (Classification, 
i. f. 296, 21); I have three of them before me as I write, which 
were kindly given me by Dr. Sharp, who found a number of them two 
or three years ago; they are extremely small, orange-yellow insects, 
something like a large Ptinella at first sight, elongate and subparallel, 
with a large head, and with the thoracic segments much longer than the 
abdominal segments; these latter are widest at the fourth and are very 
gradually narrowed towards the apex, which is terminated on each side 
by two very long hairs which are nearly as long as the abdomen; the 
legs are very long (a peculiarity to which the insect owes its great 
activity), and terminate in a single claw on each side of which there is a 
slender hook-like process, so that the apex of the legs appears trifid ; 
this contrivance enables the larva to cling tight to the bee to which it 
has gained access; these larve are slow in their motions when hatched, 
but soon grow active, and if a hair be presented to them they spring upon 
it with great rapidity. Mr. Rye has given a good account of the history 
of the larva (British Beetles, Ist Edition, p. 169), which may with 
advantage be here quoted ; it is apparently taken from the same source 
as Thomson’s account :—‘‘ The female of Meloé deposits from two to four 
separate batches of minute yellow eggs, some thousands at a time, 
though the number diminishes with each laying. These eggs are glued 
together, aud deposited in small holes in the ground, dug by the parent 
beetle. After an interval of from three to six weeks the young larve 
above described hatch out; they appear to remain torpid for some time ; 
but when once roused by sufficient warmth, exhibit extraordinary 
activity in traversing low plants, chiefly Ranuneulaceew or Chicoracee. 
From these they attach themselves, often in great numbers, to the hairy 
covering of bees as they settle on the flowers of their temporary 
lodgings ; and also, sometimes, to certain hairy Diptera, or two-winged 
flies, which closely resemble wild bees. In the latter case it is an 
unfortunate attachment for the larve, as the Diptera make no nest or 
provision for their offspring, so that the would-be parasite necessarily 
perishes of starvation; and it is probably the chance of this, added to 
the many fortunate contingencies required before the larvz can be safely 
landed within reach of their food, that causes such an enormous number 
of eggs to be laid by the parent beetle. When carried by the unconscious 
bee to its nest, the Meloé larva devours the eggs therein contained, 
changes (without leaving the cell of the latter) into a second form,—not 
unlike the larva of a Lamellicorn beetle in miniature, being arched, 
eylindrical, with toothed mandibles and stout legs,—and then subsists 
on the food intended by the bee for its own young. After some time 
this second form of the larva changes its outer covering, which is not 
entirely shed, but remains wrinkled together at the hinder apex of its 
body: it is then arched, distinctly composed of thirteen segments, 
