398 
THE BLOSSOM EATER. 
Genus XX. VII. — Meloe. The Blojfom Eaten 
In the firft edition of the Syftem of Nature, there were 
only one fpecies of this genus taken notice of; in the 
later improvements of that celebrat d work, there are 
fixteen kinds of thefe animals enumerated ; while, per- 
haps, a kill greater number remains to engage the re- 
fearches of future hillorians. This Angular tribe, con- 
tains in it the genuine cantharis, or bliftering fly, and is 
diftinguifhed by having moniliform antennas, with the 
laft articulation of an oval flrape. In all thefe in lefts the 
head is inflefted and gibbous ; the thorax round ; and the 
elytra flexible *, 
The infefts of this genus are either winged or apte- 
rous ; in the former, the elytra are fliort, extending a- 
bout half the length of the abdomen : Tn the latter, thefe 
parts reach the whole length of the body, and conceal 
under them two {lender wings : In all of them the anten- 
na refemble a necklace, compofed of a number of fmall 
rings ; thofe of the middle larger than thole near either 
' extremity. 
Meloe prolcarabeeus f. This infeft is foft to the touch, 
and of a deep black, with a flight {hade of purple towards 
the under part of the body. The ieet and the antennae 
are. 
* Syftcma Nat. p. I Moaffct Edit. lat. 16a. 
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