MELOB. 1O3 



used as an embrocation on the parts affected: for 

 this purpose also the oil expressed from the whole 

 insect has been used with equal success. The 

 female of this species deposits her eggs, which are 

 very small, and of an orange colour, in a large 

 heap or mass beneath the surface of the ground : 

 each egg, when viewed by the microscope, ap- 

 pears of a cylindric shape, with rounded ends: 

 from these are hatched the Larvae, which, at their 

 first appearance, scarcely measure a line in length, 

 and are of an ochre-yellow, with black eyes: they 

 are furnished with short antennae, six legs of mo- 

 derate length, and a long, jointed, tapering body* 

 terminated by two forking filaments or processes. 

 These larvae are found to live by attaching 

 themselves to other insects and absorbing their 

 juices. They are sometimes seen strongly fasten- 

 ed to common flies, &c. a practice so extraordinary 

 as to have caused considerable doubt whether they 

 could possibly have been the real larvae of the 

 Meloe Proscarabasus. The accurate observations 

 of Degeer however have completely proved that 

 they immediately fasten themselves to any insect, 

 whether living or dead, that is placed near them. 

 It is therefore probable that in their natural sub- 

 terraneous state they attach themselves in a si- 

 nnilar manner to the larva? of the larger beetles, 

 worms, &c. &c. 



The Meloe scabrosus* extremely resembles the 

 preceding, and is found in similar situations, but 



* Marsham Entom. Britann. 



