240 
BRITISH BEETLES. 
thousand at a time) are deposited by the female at the 
entrance of the hole burrowed by the Anthophora ; 
and, after passing through the stages above mentioned, 
and taking no food in its third form, changes into a 
pupa of the ordinary Coleopterous type, from which, 
in about a month, the perfect insect appears, — the 
entire changes occupying nearly two years. In the 
case of Sitaris, of which the perfect beetle is always 
found in or about the burrows of the bee, the entire 
scheme of life is readily credible, even if it had not 
been accurately observed ; but in Meloe there still 
remains an awkward gap for which an account is 
required, viz. the passage of a heavy, slow-going, large 
beetle from the nest of the bee to the common or 
meadow where it is always found. 
Particulars of the discoveries as to this insect are to 
be found in Mr. Newport’s paper in the Linneau 
Transactions, vol. xx. p. 297, and vol. xxi. p. 167 ; 
also in M. Fabre’s “ Memoire sur PHypermetamorphose 
et les moeurs des Meloides,” ‘ Annales des Sciences 
Naturelles/ ser. 4, vol. vii. 1857, p. 299 ; and in Lacor- 
daire, Col., vol. v. 2nd part, 651. 
Our remaining species, the well-known “ Blister- 
beetle ” or “ Spanish- Uy ” (Lytta vesicatoria) , the old 
Cantharis, is very different in shape, &c., to the mem- 
bers of either of the preceding genera, — being elon- 
gate, cylindrical, with long legs and antennae, and 
bright metallic-green in colour. It is occasionally 
taken in the southern and south-eastern counties, but 
can scarcely be considered as truly indigenous. 
The Py thiile or Salpingida; have the anterior coxal 
cavities open behind, the head prominent, free, and 
not strongly and suddenly constricted behind the eyes, 
