Meloe. COLEOPTERA. 87 



Genus XXVII. Meloe. 

 Linn. Syft. Nat. Pag. 679. 



The antennas of the Meloe, like thofe of 

 the preceding genus, refemble a firing of 

 beads, but the laft articulation, which in 

 the Tenebrio is round, in this genus is of 

 an oblong oval form. 



The thorax is roundifh. 



The elytra are foft and flexible. 



The head is infledted and gibbous. 



Many of the Meloes want wings, with 

 which others of them are furnifhed 3 they 

 are divided into two families ; the firft con- 

 taining thofe which are apterous, and have 

 elytra fhorter than the abdomen -, the fe- 

 cond, thofe which are winged and have 

 elytra as long as the body, by which the 

 wings are wholly covered. 



Scopoli adds to the Linnasan chara&ers of 

 the Meloe, that the thorax tapers, or grows flen- 



F 4. derer 



