COLBOPTERA. 77 



greater than that of the thorax, are nearly of equal thickness through- 

 out. The first joint is almost clavate and obconical; directly after 

 the following one which is very short, the stem is geniculate, and 

 forms a cylindrical or fusiform body, composed of short, crowded, 

 and, with the exception of the last, which is conoid, transversal 

 joints*. 



In the other Heteromera of the same tribe, the antennae are ahvays 

 composed of eleven very distinct joints, almost of equal thickness 

 throughout, or smaller near the extremity, and frequently much 

 longer than the head and thorax. They are irregular in several males- 



Melob, Lin. Fab. 



In Meloe properly so called, the antennae are composed of short 

 and rounded joints, the intermediate of which are the largest, and 

 sometimes so disposed, that these organs present in this point, in 

 several males an emargination or crescent. The wings are wanting, 

 and the elytra, oval or triangular, with a portion of the inner margin 

 crossing each other, only partially cover the abdomen, particularly in 

 the females, where it is extremely voluminous. 



According to M. Leon Diifour the crop of these Insects may be 

 considered as a true gizzard, being furnished internally with callous, 

 and as it were anastomosing plicae, and separated from the chylific 

 ventricle or stomach, by a valve formed of four principal pieces, each 

 of which results from two hollow cylinders placed back to back, and 

 tridentated posteriorly. The stomach is formed of transverse, well 

 marked, muscular fillets. 



They crawl along the ground, or upon low plants on the leaves of 

 which they feed. A yellowish or reddish oleaginous liquid exudes 

 from the articulations of their logs. 



In some districts of Spain, these Insects are used in place of Can- 

 tharides, or are mixed Avith them. They are also employed by the 

 Farriers. They were formerly regarded as a specific in hydropho- 

 bia. I suspect — Mem, du Mus. d'Hist. Nat. — that our Meloes are 

 the Buprestes of the ancients, Insects to which they attributed very 

 noxious qualities, and which, according to them, killed the oxen that 

 accidentally swallowed them while grazing. 



M.proscarahceus,Ij.; Leach, Lin, Trans., XI, vi. 6,7. About 

 an inch long; glossy-black, and densely punctured ; sides of the 

 head and thorax, and the antennae and legs, verging on violet ; 

 elytra finely rugose; middle of the antennae of the male dilated 

 and forming a curve. 



According to De Geer, the females deposit in the earth a 

 great number of eggs in piles. The larvae have six feet and two 

 filaments at the posterior extremity of their body ; they attach 

 themselves to Flies, whose juices they suck. M. Kirby thinks 

 that it is an apterous or parasatical Insect, which he calls the 



* See Lat. Geuer. Crust, et Insect, II, p. 219, and I, x, 10; and the Encyc. 

 Method., article CEnas. 



