TENEBRIONID^. — BLAPSlDiB. 65 



Tenebrionidse — Meal-worms. 



The larv^ of the Tenebrio violitor, commonly called 

 Meal-worms, which are found in carious wood, are bred by 

 bird-fanciers, to feed nightingales, and constitute the only 

 bait by which these shy birds can be taken : a fact the more 

 curious when it is considered that the nightingale, in a state 

 of nature, can seldom or never see these larvae. They are 

 also used to feed cameleons which are exhibited.^ 



Blapsidae — Church-yard beetle, etc. 



We learn from Linnaeus that in Sweden the appearance 

 of the Church-yard beetle, Blaps mortisaga, produces the 

 most violent alarm and trepidation among the people, who, 

 on account of its black hue and strange aspect, regard it 

 as the messenger of pestilence and death. Hence is this 

 insect called mortisaga — the prophesier of death.^ 



A common species in Egypt, the Blaps sulcata, is made 

 into a preparation which the Egyptian women eat with the 

 view of acquiring what they esteem a proper degree of 

 plumpness ! The beetle they broil and mash up in clarified 

 butter; then add honey, oil of sesame, and a variety of 

 aromatics and spices pounded together.^ Fabricius reports 

 that the Turkish women also eat this insect, cooked with 

 butter, to make them fat. He also tells us that they use it 

 in Egypt and the Levant, as a remedy for pains and mala- 

 dies in the ears, and against the bite of scorpions.* Carsten 

 Niebuhr also mentions this curious practice of the women 

 of Turkey, and adds, the women of Arabia likewise make 

 use of these insects for the same purpose, taking three of 

 them, every morning and evening, fried in butter.^ 



The Blatta mentioned by Pliny is evidently, from his de- 

 scription, the Church-yard beetle, Blaps mortisaga, instead 



1 Cuvier, An. Kingd. — Ins., i. 569. 



2 Linn. Faun. Suec, p. 822. 



3 Lane's 3Iod. Egypt., i. 237, ii. 275. 

 * Cuvier, An. King. — Ins., i. 568. 



5 Pinkerton's Voy. and Trav., x. 190. 



7 



