1816 ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM. PART III. 
number, as inhabitants of the oak, must be added the vast quantities of 
Ichneum6nidz, and other parasites, which feed upon the phytophagous species 
themselves. Perhaps the estimate here given may be found to be too great, 
although every one accustomed to collecting knows that the oak furnishes by 
far the greatest portion of his captures. Perhaps, if we give 2000 as the num- 
ber of oak-feeders and their parasites, we shall scarcely run the risk of over- 
rating the quantity. Lesser long ago said, “Le chéne suffit a en élever 
plusieurs centaines d’espéces différentes.” (Théologie des Insectes, tom. i. 
- 199. ; 
: The solid Wood of the oak serves for the food of various insects, chiefly 
whilst in the larva state. Amongst these, the goat moth (Céssus Ligni- 
pérda, p. 1386. fig. 1233.), the wood ‘leopard moth (Zeuzéra z’sculi, p. 887. 
and fig. 636.), the small stag ‘beetle (Dércus parallelopipedus, p. 886. 
fig. 635.; Gyll. Ins. Suec., i. p. 67.), and the Sinodéndron_cylindricum 
(p. 1225. fig. 1048.), are occasional inhabitants of the oak. Several other 
species of lamellicorn and longicorn beetles are also inhabitants of this tree: 
of these, the great stag beetle (Zucanus Cérvus, fig. 1645.) is the most abun- 
dant, as well as the largest. The larva of this insect (a) feeds upon the putrid 
wood of the oak. (Gyllenhal Ins. Suec., i. p. 65.) It is a large, whitish, fleshy, 
grub, like that of the cockchafer (Zelolontha vulgaris); and it is furnished 
with three pairs of legs, attached to the three anterior segments. In general, it 
lies on one side, with the body curled up, so that the tail nearly touches the 
head. The structure of the jaws of this larva is very similar te that of the 
caterpillar of the Céssus; although, in the perfect state, it is impossible to 
discover two insects more completely unlike each other. When it has attained 
its full size, it constructs a cocoon of chips of wood, agglutinated together, 
within which it assumes the pupa state, in which the immense mandibles of 
the imago are distinctly visible (6), The female pupa is, of course, destitute of 
these large jaws, these organs being but of comparatively small size in that 
sex when arrived at the perfect state (c). The beetle seems to subsist entirely 
upon fluids, which it laps up by means of its long pencil-like lower jaws 
and lip. 
Trichius variabilis is another lamellicorn beetle, the larva of which feeds upon 
the wood of the oak. It is occasionally found in Windsor Forest, but is of great 
rarity in this country. Its larva is very similar to that of the cockchafer. 
A beautiful figure of the perfect insect, which is also found upon, and within, 
the stumps of rotten oaks, is given by Curtis. (Brit. Ent., pl. 286.) 
The larvee of the longicorn beetles, on account of their generally large size, 
are destructive to trees; but they are comparatively of rare occurrence in this 
country, if we except the musk beetle, found in willows. In tropical climates, 
where the perfect insects attain a gigantic size, they must be as injurious as 
the Céssus larva. These large wood-feeding larvee, or some of them, at least 
(and it is not clearly proved which), were considered by the Romans as great 
dainties, and are still greedily devoured by the negroes in many tropical 
climates. We will not quarrel with the tastes of these Acridéphagi and 
Campéphagi, because there can be no reason why a larva, which feeds upon 
wood, should not be as nutritious as an oyster or a shrimp; but we will 
quote a short passage relative to the subject, from the observations of the 
celebrated African traveller, Smeathman :— “The larve of all the beetles that 
feed on decayed wood seem to be rich and delicate eating ; so that every forest 
in the torrid zone affords a man plenty of very wholesome and hearty nourish- 
ment, who has an instrument strong enough to cut in pieces the decayed 
trees. This knowledge might have saved the lives, perhaps, of many seamen 
who have been shipwrecked on desert equinoctial shores, which are generally 
covered with thick woods. The very best kind of vegetable food is but poor 
nourishment for the labouring Europeans, if not accompanied with animal 
flesh, or, at least, with animal or vegetable oils; and such food as seamen in 
distress meet with, as above mentioned, have oftentimes very acrimonious 
qualities, and are dangerous, even in small quantities, to those who eat them 
