Met PTR Moe Re ee Se 
ross is 4 
iG 
~ 
the Relative Edibility of Insects. 39 
exclamation of disgust and walked away. The beetle 
emits a drop of foul-smelling fluid when handled. 
Series Ay. Obs. 406-414. Jan. 23. 
Series Az. Obs. 415-451. Jan, 24.—At 2’ p.m. M. had 
had food but no insects, and squealed with excitement 
when he saw them coming. 
Obs. 415. Sp. 117.—Carabid, Harpalus sp. : M. 
ate this black ground-beetle, but rubbed has hands 
on the ground afterwards. 
(Note.—This very significant gesture shows how very 
distasteful was this beetle, which was only eaten under 
stress of hunger.) 
Obs. 416. Sp. 86.—Lycid, Chlamydolycus trabeatus : 
this was actually tasted, but no more. 
Obs. 417. Sp. 198. Lycid, Merolycus femorahs, 
Bourg.: M. pulled this beetle to pieces, tasted it, 
but ate none. 
Obs. 418. Sp. 196.—Galerucid, Diacantha sp. nr. 
conifera: a bright yellow beetle with black tips to 
the elytra. This beetle was taken and dropped. 
Obs. 419. Sp. 199.—Silphid, Silpha micans F.: a 
sea-green beetle found on an old giraffe skull. It 
was put on the ground and allowed to crawl within 
reach of M., who took it, bit it, and very decidedly 
put it down. 
(Note —That M. should bite such a very foul beetle 
shows how desirous he was for insect food, and makes 
his behaviour in Obs. 416-418 more emphatic. Later 
in this series, when he had eaten some insects, he refused 
a second Silpha with an exclamation of disgust !) 
Obs. 420. Sp. 200.—Fulgorid, Pyrops marginatus 
Westw.: about an inch long, with a long snout, grey 
and speckled. I put it on the ground for M., who 
picked it up and bit off the “ snout.” Not finding it 
distasteful he put the whole insect into his mouth, 
but soon took it out, looked at it, pulled it about, and 
dropped it. | 
(Note—This extremely procryptic insect was appar- 
ently quite distasteful.) 
~ Obs. 421. Sp. 201.—Forficulid, Forficula sene- 
galensis Serv.: an abundant medium-sized brown 
earwig with yellow tegmina. M. rubbed it very 
vigorously on the ground and would not taste it. 
Obs. 422. Sp. 188. Eumolpid, Huryope batest 
