MELOE. MELO 



Generic Character. 



Antenna moniliformes, ar- 



ticulo ultimo ovato. 

 Thorar subrotunJus. 

 Elytra mollia, flexilia. 

 Caput infiexum. 



Antennae moniliform, will* 



the last joint ovate. 

 Thorax roundish. 

 Wing-Sheaths soft, flexile. 

 Head inflected. 



.MONG the principal species of Meloe may 

 be numbered the Meloe Proscarabceus, commonly 

 called the Oil-Beetle. It is of considerable size, 

 often measuring near an inch and half in length: 

 its colour is violet-black, especially on the antennae 

 and limbs: the wing-sheaths are very short, in the 

 female insect especially, scarcely covering more 

 than a third of the body, and are of an oval shape : 

 this species is frequent in the advanced state of 

 spring in fields and pastures, creeping slowly, the 

 body appearing so swoln or distended with eggs 

 as to cause the insect to move with difficulty. On 

 being handled it suddenly exsudes from the joints 

 of its legs, as well as from some parts of the body, 

 several small drops of a clear, deep-yellow oil or 

 fluid, of a very peculiar and penetrating smell. 

 This oil or fluid has been highly celebrated for its 

 supposed efficacy in rheumatic pains, &c. when 



