DIRECT BENEFITS DERIVED FROM INSECTS. 303 



which is of the thickness of a man's finger, is eaten at 

 Surinam, in America, and in the West Indies, both by 

 whites and blacks, who empty, wash, and roast them, 

 and find them delicious ^ Mr. Hall informs me, that 

 in Jamaica this grub is called Macauco, and is in request 

 at the principal tables. A similar insect is dressed at 

 Mauritius under the name of Moutac, which the whites 

 as well as Negroes eat greedily^. The larva of P. cervi- 

 cornis is, according to Linne, held in equal estimation, 

 and that of Acanthocinus Trihulus when roasted forms 

 an article of food in Africa "=. It is probable that all the 

 species of this genus might be safely eaten, as well as 

 many other grubs of Coleoptera ; and although I do not 

 feel disposed to recommend with Reaumur'', that the 

 larvae of Oryctes nasicornis should be sought for " dans 

 les couches de fumier" yet I think with Dr. Darwin % 

 that those of the cockchafer which feed upon the roots of 

 grass, or the perfect insects themselves, which, if we may 

 judge from the eagerness with which cats, and turkeys 

 and other birds devour them, are no despicable bonne 

 louche, might be added to our entremets. This would 

 be one means of keeping down the numbers of these 

 occasionally destructive animals. 



In the next order of insects, the Orthoptera, the gryl- 

 lus, or locust tribe, as they are the greatest destroyers 

 of food, so as some recompense they furnish a considera^- 

 ble supply of it to numerous nations. They are record- 

 ed to have done this from the most remote antiquity, 



oak as well as in other trees, may each have been eaten under this 

 name, as their difference would not be discernible either to collec- 

 tors or cooks. Amoreux, 154. "* Merian Ins. Sur. 24. 



'' St. Pierre, Voy. 72. " Smcathman, .32. '^ Reaum. ii. 344. 



" Phytol. 364. 



