Meloé.} HETEROMERA. 95 
attenuated at the extremities, and motionless. From this ‘false pupa’ 
(and probably after passing the winter) a third form of the larva 
appears similar to the second ;” after this, however, we know no further : 
we can only judge from the analogy of Staris that it changes into an 
ordinary pupa, from which the perfect insect emerges ; the curious fact, 
however, is, that the large unwieldy imago is usually found on a common 
or meadow or hedgerow far away apparently from any bees, and that 
we have no idea how it makes its way to these situations from the nest 
in which it must have undergone its final transformation : another 
curious fact about the genus is that certain species appear in large 
numbers in a certain place, and then as suddenly disappear; this has 
been observed by Mr. Champion in the case of WM. cicatricosus ; if a 
number are confined together, they attack and mutilate each other with 
considerable violence. Of the twenty-eight species which are found in 
Hurope, seven occur in Britain ; one only can be called common, and 
several are extremely rare and have only been met with in one or two 
localities ; they may be distinguished as follows :— 
I. Antennxz thickened in middle, distorted in the male 
(s.g. Cnestocera, Thoms. ). 
i, Thorax at least as long as broad; elytra wrinkled 
or shagreened. 
1. Head and thorax more coarsely and closely punce- 
tured ; thorax without distinct transverse impression 
at bases ; colour blue black .. M. PROSCARABEUS, LZ. 
2. Head and thorax less coarsely and rather diffusely 
punctured; thorax with a distinct transverse im- 
pression at base ; colour rather bright blue. . . M. vrotaceus, Marsh. 
ii. Thorax « little broader than long; head and thorax 
with fine scattered punctures; elytra punctured . . M. auruMmNALIS, Ol. 
II. Antenne not thickened in middle, and not distorted 
in male (Meloé,i sp ). 
. Head not much broader or larger than thorax, 
1, Colour blue-black, not metullie . . . M. crcatrricosus, Leach. 
wie Colour, especially of thorax, more or less metallic M. VARIEGATUS, Donov. 
- Head much broader and larger than thorax, which is 
very small 
1. Thorax closely and rugosely punctured, with sides 
not rounded . M. ruaosvs, Marsh. 
2. Thorax eae and simply pumetured with sides 
rounded . . eal Ths : - . . M. BREVICOLLIS, Panz. 
M. ceowoadulll niki iby Bi, sth a slight bluish or violet re- 
flection ; antennz and legs bluish- black’; ; head broader than thorax, with 
anterior and posterior margins straight or almost straight, strongly and 
somewhat rugosely punctured ; thorax subquadrate, with more or less 
obsolete impressions on disc, punctuation much the same as that of 
head ; elytra short, rugose; abdomen very thickly and finely rugose ; 
legs stout. L. 12-42 mm. 
Male with the sixth and seventh joints of the antenne dilated and 
compressed, and more or less angularly inflexed ; the elytra also in this 
sex are comparatively longer. 
