INSECTS USED AS FOOD, ETC. 



13 



{Cossus ligniperda), or that of the Stag-beetle {Lucanus 

 cervus). In like manner the white ants {Termites) are de- 

 vom-ed by the savages of Africa and America ; whilst the great 

 quantity of honey annually consumed in every quarter of the 

 world is sufficient to prove, that in this point of \4ew insects 

 are highly beneficial. 



It has also been recently discovered, that the manna 

 which, it will be remembered, served the Israelites for food 

 during their passage through the Wilderness, is but the con- 

 creted juice of an Arabian tree [Tamarix manniferd), which 

 is caused to flow^ by the puncture of a small species of Coc- 

 cus, which the celebrated Prussian entomologist. Dr. King, 

 has recently described and figiu-ed under the name of Coccus 

 manniparus, in his splendid work upon the insects of Arabia, 

 and to whom I am personally indebted for specimens of 

 this interesting insect. In medicine insects are also of great 

 service. Of these the Cantharis vesicatoria or bhster beetle 



is the most important. Numerous other species were for- 

 merly introduced into the Pharmacopceia, but they have gra- 

 dually been disused. In a commercial point of view, silk, 

 chermes, and cochineal are some of the most important pro- 

 ducts. There are many other insects which construct silken 

 cocoons, and emit various coloured dyes, and which it might 



c 



