SPECIES OF MELOE. 2 1 5 



an acrid yellow oil, in which, probably, reiides their 

 moil active property. 



Tlrls fluid fcems the animal's means of rendering it- 

 felf obnoxious to others ; for, on the moment of ap- 

 plying the hand to feize it, it ejects a large globula 

 from the knee joint of every leg, and this, 'if iuffered 

 to dry on the lingers, foon produces an uncommon 

 tingling in the part, and i'ometimes a bliiter. This is 

 the only inconvenience attending the catching of 

 them, for they make no reliitance : on the contrarv, 

 they draw in the head towards the breaft as loon as 

 touched, and endeavour to throw thcmfelves off the 

 plant they are found on. 



The female produces about 150 eggs, a little 

 fmaller than a caraway feed, white and oblong oval. 

 Their larva3 1 have not feen, therefore as yet know not 

 where they depoiit their eggs. 



Their flight from plant to plant is How, heavy, and 

 with a loud humming noife, the body hanging almoil 

 perpendicularly to the wings. 



They vary in the colour of the elytra, from an 

 orange red to a bright yellow ; but, I do not find this 

 variety conftitutes any difference in fex. 



The natives of this part of the country know the 

 infeel: by the name of tel-eene, exprefiive of its oily 

 nature : they are acquainted with its bliftering proper- 

 ties, but I do not find they make any medicinal ufe 

 of it. 



The drawing which accompanies this description, 

 exhibits the fly of its natural iize. 



Futtc-Ghur, September, 1/0)6. 



RE- 



