ORDER COLEOPTERA. 553 



thicker, and nearly top-shaped, and the eleventh and last 

 larger and ovoid. {Pirn, gibbosa, Herbst.) 



Blaps, Fab., properly so called. 



Their corslet is nearly square, flat, or but little convex. 

 The abdomen is ovaliform, truncated transversely at its base, 

 and more or less elongated. The elytra of most of them are 

 narrowed and elongated into a point, especially in the males. 

 The third articulation of the antennae is much longer than 

 the following, and cylindrical ; these, or the three last but 

 one at least, are granulated ; the last is ovoid and short. 



With the species whose body and abdomen are in propor- 

 tion less elongated and wider, whose elytra, in the female, 

 terminate in a short point, and the corslet is nearly flat, and 

 almost isometrical, are arranged 



B. mortisaga, Oliv. Col. III. 60. Tenehrio mortisaga, 

 Lin. About ten lines long, dull black, simply punctated 

 beneath, with the corslet nearly square, and having on each 

 side, on the posterior edge, vestiges of a small flatted border. 

 The end of the cases forms a short and obtuse point. Found 

 in dark and dirty places, near privies, and often even in 

 houses. 



B. IcBvigata, Fab., may form a peculiar sub-genus. Its 

 body is much shorter than that of the other species, very 

 convex or gibbous. From the fourth articulation the an- 

 tennae are granulated. The fore-legs terminate in a strong 

 point or spine formed by a spur. 



Fabricius states that the Turkish women inhabiting Egypt, 

 where this insect is very common, eat the furrowed blaps, 

 dressed with butter. It is said also to be efficacious in 

 maladies of the ear, and the sting of the scorpion.* 



There all the legs are angular, with longitudinal crests ; 



* Bhps gages, sulcata, of Fab. Dejeaii's Coleoptera. 



