322 MODERN CLASSIFICATION OF INSECTS. 



terminal segment of the body semicircular, and slightly serrated with 

 a terminal point- 

 According to Fabricius, the women in Egypt eat the Blaps sulcata, 

 which is very common in that country, cooked with butter, in order 

 to make them grow fat ; it is also used as a specific against the 

 ear-ach, and the bite of the scorpion. 



Mr. Curtis has noticed a sexual peculiarity in the insect named in 

 English collections Bl. obtusa *, namely, that in the males, the 

 elytra are more acuminate, and that there is a tuft of yellow hair 

 upon the middle of the second abdominal segment at the base. Dr. 

 Heineken has, however, proved that these characters are those of the 

 females (Zool. Journ. 18. p. 200.); and Olivier states, that in Pimelia 

 striata Fab. the female has a round granulated spot in the same 

 situation; by striking which against any hard substance she produces 

 a rather loud sound, which serves to attract the male. In some other 

 species of Blaps the same peculiarity is to be observed, and two spots 

 of a similar nature and situation are observed in Chiroscelis, which 

 Lamarck considered as indicating some luminous organ {Latr. Hist. 

 Nat. X. p. 262.). Mr. Curtis has also made some observations upon the 

 relations of these insects, considering them as " having fewer joints 

 in the palpi " than Cychrus ; such, however, is not the case ; the 

 maxillary palpi in Blaps being I- and not 3-jointed, as represented 

 by Mr. Curtis ; the basal joint being distinct, although small. 



In Cacicus americanus Dej., SoUcr, the posterior tibite are em- 

 ployed in producing an acute sound, by rubbing them against the 

 lateral margins of the elytra. (Solier, Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. 1837. 

 P-217.) 



The only British genus is Blaps, consisting of three indigenous 

 species. The exotic genera are numerous, great numbers of species 

 inhabiting the sandy deserts of Africa, Szc. ; but they do not offer any 

 material subject for observation. 



* As Dr. Heineken has sliown that tliis insect is not the obtusa of Fabricius, it 

 would be advisable to retain SchajfFer and Marsham's name Icthifera. 



