8 INTRODUCTION. 



probably the larva of a large wood-feeding beetle (possibly the 

 Stag-Beetle, or perhaps the larva of Onjdes Nasicornis, or of some 

 Longicorn) as a great delicacy, and that of the Palm Weevil is 

 still highly prized in the West Indies. The Australians make 

 "bugong" cakes of a species of moth {Agrotis Spini), and the 

 inhabitants of Southern Africa make " kungu " cake of gnats and 

 other small insects. Locusts are likewise eaten all over Africa, 

 and when properly prepared are, as I am informed by Mr. Cowan, 

 the well-known missionary to Madagascar, very good eating — much 

 better than some travellers have reported, or than Mr. Riley, the 

 State Entomologist of Missouri, found the destructive Rocky 

 Mountain Locust. Mr. Cowan was inclined to think that when 

 locusts proved distasteful, it was due either to defective cooking 

 or preparation, or to the locusts themselves not being sufficiently 

 fresh ; but while allowing for this, I am also inclined to believe 

 that there may really be a great difference in flavour between 

 different species of locusts, or even between the same species at 

 different times, according to its food. The inhabitants of Mexico 

 and Central America make great use of the eggs of some of the 

 large water-boatflies (Nepidce) which abound in their rivers ; 

 and many savages share v^^ith our " poor relations," the monkeys, 

 their taste for a still more objectionable insect delicacy. 



Insects are exposed to the attacks of numerous enemies, — many 

 of the smaller vertebrate animals, more especially birds, feeding 

 entirely or in a large measure upon them. They are likewise 

 exposed to the attacks of other insects, many large families of 

 insects feeding almost entirely on others. Almost every family of 

 the great Order Hymenoptera (if we except the Apidce, or bees) is 

 either carnivorous or parasitic, or provisions its nest with other 

 insects. The Diptera, too, many of which are most annoying to 

 the higher animals, and often destroy them when they attack 

 them as j)arasites, are likewise destructive to other insects, for 

 some groups prey upon insects, and others infest them as parasites. 

 Many families of the Coleoptera, Orthoptera, Neuroptera, and 

 Hemiptera are likewise more or less carnivorous ; the Lepidoptera 

 being the only Order which confines its attacks almost exclusively 

 to the vegetable kingdom. Insects are likewise destroyed by 

 spiders, parasitic worms, and various species of mould or fungi. 



Insects act as general scavengers, attacking decaying vegetable 

 or animal matter at once, and speedily clearing it away by their 

 numbers. They likewise check the inordinate growth of vegeta- 



