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PLATE LXVIL 
MELOE VARIEGATUS 
Scarce Metron 
CoLfEoPTERA 
GENERIC CHARACTER. 
Antenne globular, the laft globule oval. ‘Thorax roundih. Shells 
foft. Head gibbous, and bent downwards. 
SPECIFIC CHARACTER, 
Head and thorax dull green, margined with red. Shells fhort, dull 
green fhagreened. Body large; above variegated with red, green) 
and copper colour: beneath purple. Legs reddifh purple. 
ern ETRE SER Te Ea ‘ ore 
In form and fize this fpecies is not unlike the common Meloe *; 
but is far fuperior to that Infe@t, for the beauty of its colours: whén 
the creature is alive the upper part of the body partakes of the moft 
vivid colours, but thofe colours become more ob{cure after the Infe¢ 
dies ;— this difference of the appearance, between the living and, dead 
fpecimen of the fame fpecies, is not peculiar to this Infeét only, but 
is commonly obferved of moft other kinds. The body is large in 
proportion to the other parts, but after death it is fo contra&ted, or _ 
diftorted from its natural fhape, as to affume the appearance of an 
incoherent mafs;\the fkin fo corrugated as to receive a falfe light on” 
different parts of the furface, and confequently the natural glow of 
© M, Profcarabzus, 
