496 - THE INSECT WORLD. 
sitical on various species of Andren@, of which Stylops Melitte, 
having a fleshy abdomen and the wings longer than the body, 
may be considered typical: and lastly, Halictophagus, of which 
only one species, infesting Halictus eratus,* named Halictophagus 
Curtisii, is known to exist, and which makes its appearance in 
the month of August. 
These singular insects are found in various parts of the world— 
Europe, Australia, and America. They were discovered by Pro- 
fessor Peck almost simultaneously with Mr. Kirby’s discovery in 
this country, and to whom he sent specimens of a species which 
has received the name of Xenos Peckii,—lately in New Zealand, 
and elsewhere. 
The genus My/abris corresponds most in structure, in appearance, 
and in properties, to Cantharis, whose place they take in the 
East, in China, and in the south of Hurope. They are found in 
clusters on the flowers of chicory, thistles, &c. The Mylabris 
chicorii, common enough in France, especially in the south, is of 
small size, whilst the other species are rather large. It is black, 
hairy, with a large yellowish spot at the base of each elytron, and 
two transverse bands of the same colour. 
Another genus of this family is Me/oé, with very short elytra, 
and without wings. They walk slowly and with difficulty on low 
plants, the female dragging along an enormous abdomen filled 
with eggs. They are generally observed in spring. in Germany 
they give them the name of Maiwurm (Mayworm). ‘Their succu- 
lence would expose them, without doubt, to the voracity of birds, 
and of insect-eating Mammifers, if they had not the power of 
exuding at will, in the moment of danger, from all their articula- 
tions, an unctuous humour, of a reddish-yellow colour, the 
odour, and probably also the caustic properties, of which repel the 
ageressor. The females lay their eggs underground, and out of 
these come forth larvae of a strange shape. Swallowed by cattle, 
they cause them to swell and die. It is for this reason that 
Latreille has given it as his opinion that these insects are the 
Buprestris of the ancients, of which the law of Cornelius speaks, 
“Lex Cornelia de sicariis et veneficis.” But the name of 
Buprestis was applied by Linnzus to a genus of which we shall 
treat farther on, and it has been generally adopted by naturalists. 
* Halictus and Andrena are two genera of Bees. 
