Mdoe.} 



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 Sitaris that it changes into au 

 ordinary pupa, from which the perfect insect emerges j 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 M. 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 

 Europe, 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. Antennae thickened iu middle, distorted in the male 



(s.g. Cnestocera, Thorns. ). 



i. Thorax at least as long as broad; elytra wrinkled 

 or shagreened. 



1. Head and thorax more coarsely and closely punc- 

 tured ; thorax without distinct transverse impression 



at base ; colour blue black M. PEOSCAHABJECS, L. 



2. Head and thorax less coarsely and rather diffusely 

 punctured ; thorax with a distinct transverse iir- 

 pression at base ; colour rather bright blue . . . 



ii. Thorax a little broader than long ; head and thorax 

 with fine scattered punctures; elytra punctured . . 



II. Antennae not thickened in middle, and not distorted 



in male (Meloe, i. sp ). 

 i. Head not much broader or larger than thorax. 



1. Colour blue-black, not metallic M. ciCATKicosus, Leach. 



2. Colour, especially of thorax, more or less metallic M. VAUIEGATUS, Donor, 

 ii. Head much broader and larger than thorax, which is 



very small 



1. Thorax closely and rugose ly punctured, with sides 



not rounded M. EUGOSUS, Marsh. 



2. Thorax diflnsely and bimply punctured, with sides 



rounded M. BHEYICOLLIS, Panz. 



M. proscarabaeus, L. Black, with a slight bluish or violet re- 

 flection ; antennae 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 antennas dilated and 

 compressed, and more or less angularly inflexed ; the elytra also in this 

 sex are comparatively longer. 



M. VIOIACEUS, Marsh. 



M. AUTUMXALI8, Ol. 



