ORDER I.—BEETLES. 383 
metamorphosis is complete, and they emerge as_ perfect 
Beetles. 
A number of such larvae were considered by the ancient 
Romans as a wholesome and delicious article of food, and 
even fried and eaten by them, in the same manner as the 
inhabitants of the West India Islands now do with the 
Palm-worm, which is a disgusting-looking, fat larva, from 
three to five inches long. ‘This larva lives in the stem of 
the Palm-tree, usually in the Cabbage Palm (Areca olera- 
cea), and afterward changes into a black weevil two inches 
long (Calandra palarum), which, however, belongs to the 
herbivorous Beetles, of which we shall speak hereafter. 
The gigantic beetles of this family, some of which are 
from three to five inches long, are found in the tropics of 
America, Asia, and Africa, and, from their size and mag- 
nificent colors, as well as from the oddity of their appear- 
ance in contrast with those of other climes, form great or- 
naments in an Entomological cabinet. They are as rare in 
the insect world as are the Elephants, Rhinoceroses, and 
River Horses among beasts; and enthusiastic entomolo- 
gists have often paid very considerable sums of money for 
them. 
It is not wonderful, then, that these beautiful ornaments 
of Creation have so excited the admiration of scientific men 
as to lead to a complete mania for collecting and presery- 
ing them—as actually to make the observation of Insects, 
and thestudy of their nature and use, the ruling passion of 
their lives. The immortal Reaumure established on his es- 
tate houses, or rather nurseries, for insects, and paid sery- 
ants for attending to them, he himself watching them night 
and day, in order to become perfectly acquainted with their 
manner of living. His ‘‘ Mémoires des Insectes,” publish- 
ed in Paris, 1754, abound with the most curious and inter- 
esting observations. 
General Count Déjeau, Aid-de-camp to Napoleon Bona- 
B2 
