248 OBSERVATIONS ON INSECTS. 



identical with what was bred from the eggs of the 

 Meloe proscarab&us ; the other is larger, of a much 

 darker colour, approaching to black, though with the 

 legs in part testaceous, and with the setae at the 

 apex of the abdomen longer. Perhaps this last is 

 only the former in a more advanced state of growth. 

 If, however, they be distinct, they must come from 

 two different species of Meloe, supposing them really 

 to be the larvae of this genus of beetles. The only 

 species of Meloe found about here, besides the M. 

 prose arabceus, is the M. . violaceus ; and this is not at 

 all abundant.* 



EARWIGS. f 



EARWIGS, as everybody knows, creep much into 

 houses during the summer months, and often secrete 

 themselves in the daytime in the crevices about win- 

 dows. But in two or three instances I have observed 

 them to be particularly numerous in such places after 

 painting the outside of the house. I fancied the 

 paint had some attraction for them, as almost before 

 it was completely dry I noticed them crowding upon 

 the sill of the window beneath the bottom of the 

 sash, when the latter was down. 



* For further information on this mysterious subject the reader 

 is referred to De Geer, Hist, des Ins. torn. v. pp. 8 12. tab. i. 

 fig. 5 8 ; Kirby, Man. Ap. Angl. vol. ii. p. 168; and Westwood, 

 Entom. Trans, vol. ii. p. 184. See also Entom. Trans, vol. iii. 

 p. 294, where (since writing the above) I find an allusion by Mr. 

 Smith to two kinds of these supposed larvae of the Meloe ; pro- 

 bably the same as those noticed by myself. 



\ Forficula auricular ia, Linn. 



