134 Rev. F. W. Hope's Observations respecting 



Macrodontia cervicornis, Linn. 



Linnaeus, writing on this insect, states : " Habitat in America, 

 ligno Bombacis larvae quae exemptae edulis in deliciis.'' 



Omacantha gigas. Fab. 



According to Smeathman this insect, when roasted, forms an 

 article of food in Africa. 



Lamia rubus ? 



The larvae of Lamia rubiis ? Fab. are eaten in the island of 

 Ceylon, and I have heard also, that the Burmese are partial to 

 these beetle grubs, probably a closely allied species of Lamia. 

 One species I have seen, it appeared longer than rubus, but it 

 was in too mutilated a state to speak with certainty. It may 

 here be added, that under the name of rubus there are several 

 species of Lamia confounded together. 



Lamia 8-maculaia. 



The above insect is reported to be eaten in India. Is this the 

 destructive insect named Carian by Heyne, which he states is 

 not so prejudicial to the cocoa-nut trees in the Mysore as it is 

 on the coast? Before concluding with the Longicornes it may be 

 mentioned, that many others of the Prionidce, and Lamiidt^ and 

 Cerambycidce, are probably eaten, and, from the account of various 

 travellers, beetle grubs appear to be rich and delicate eating. 



Calandra Chinensis ? 



The historian yElian mentions the circumstance of an Indian 

 king treating some of his Grecian guests with the larvae of an 

 insect instead of fruit. This probably was a grub of a species of 

 Calandra, and not unlikely that of Cal. Chinensis, which is widely 

 spread over a large portion of the Asiatic continent. It is abun- 

 dant in China, on the Tanesserim Coast ; at Calcutta, Ceylon, 

 and also in the Concan. 



Calandra palmarum. 



This insect is also a species of palm-worm, but certainly dis- 

 tinct from that of India. It is called in the West Indies, where it 

 abounds, Gntgru. According to Madame Merian they are roasted 



