BITING AND NOXIOUS INSECTS OTHES THAN MOSQUITOES 39 



At Roseires, in Novemljer, I found numerous specimens of beetles belonging 

 to the Cantharidaj, genus Mylabris. Captain Ensor reports them as being common Blister beetles 

 in the Kassala district, where they are called " Fasseea." Captain Rivers states that 

 they occur in great numbers in Kordofan. Probably several other species exist. 

 Samples of similar vesicating insects from South iVfrica have appeared on the 

 London market, and yielded fi'om r09 to 1-02 per cent, of cantharidin.* Mylabris 

 bifasciata of the Cape of Good Hope was found by Braithwaite^ to be 

 extremely rich in cantharidin. It is quite possible that these beetles may be of 

 some economic value. The subject seems worthy of further investigation. 



[These beetles are figured on Plate A, and a note regarding them is appended 

 to the plate.— F. V. T.] 



Digpeneatory of the United States ' P.. J. Tr. xviii. 24C 



