COLEOPTERA. . 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 antennz are always 
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, 
Menor, Lin. Fab. 
In Meloe properly so called, the antennze 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 Dufour the crop of these Insects may be 
considered as a true gizzard, being furnished internally with callous, 
and as it were anastomosing plicee, and separated from the chylific 
ventricle or stomach, by a valve formed of four principal pieces, each 
of which results from twe 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 legs. 
In some districts of Spain, these Insects are used in place of Can- 
tharides, or are mixed with them. They are also employed by the 
Farriers. ‘They were formerly regarded as a specific in hydropho- 
bia. Isuspect—Mém, 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. proscarabeus, L.; Leach, Lin, Trans., XI, vi. 6,7. About 
an inch long; glossy-black. aid densely punctured ; sides of the 
head and thorax, and the antennee and legs, verging on violet ; 
elytra finely rugose; middle of the antennze 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 larvee 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. Gever. Crust. et Insect,, II, p. 219, and I, x, 10; and the Encyc. 
Méthod., article Gnas. 
