If it were not well known that the larvae of the Heteromera 

 are exceedingly different from those of the predaceous Penta- 

 mera, it might be difficult to ascertain whether their relation- 

 ship had not a greater claim than that of analogy ; and more 

 satisfactory examples to confirm our opinion cannot perhaps 

 be adduced than the genus before us and Cychrus : — their an- 

 tennae are not very dissimilar, they are destitute of wings, and 

 the elytra are united, the palpi are hatchet-shaped, and in the 

 maxillae the resemblance is still maintained in the internal lobe 

 which is bent and acute, and the external one which assumes 

 the same dilated form. Blaps is, however, less perfect in 

 structure, having fewer joints in the palpi and posterior tarsi ; 

 the mandibles, mentum and lip, are very different, &c. 

 There are 3 British species : viz. 



1. B. gigas Linn. — gages Fab., Panz. fasc. 96. n. 1. 



2. mortisaga Linn., Panz. fasc. 3. n. 3. 



3. obtusa Fab. 



A single specimen of the magnificent B. gigas was found in 

 the stump of a felled tree in 1824 on Portsea Common, and is 

 now in the cabinet of J. H. Griesbach, Esq. 



B. mortisaga, which is supposed to be the Blatta of Pliny, 

 is found as early as April in dark and damp places, in churches, 

 cellars, kitchens, &c. It has a very fetid scent, and, like Ache- 

 rontia Atrojpos, has been regarded by the superstitious as an 

 omen of misfortune. It is most tenacious of life, one having 

 lived upwards of 3 years with Mr. H. Baker without food, 

 and revived after having been kept in spirits of wine a whole 

 night : this I have observed myself in Coccinellce, two of which 

 re-animated after being 24 hours in the same spirit. 



No figure of B. obtusa having come to our knowledge, ex- 

 cept indeed one of Schaeffer's, it cannot be otherwise than 

 useful, especially as it is often confounded with B. mortisaga. 

 It is very much broader than that species, more convex, less 

 shining, more coarsely and thickly punctured ; the antennae 

 are much shorter, the female has no scutellum, and that of the 

 male is nearly obsolete. It is not common, but has been 

 abundant in stables at Norwich and cellars at Hertford in 

 June. 



Blaps sulcata, an Egyptian species (Latreille informs us), is 

 employed by the Turks to alleviate pain of the ear, and to 

 cure the sting of the scorpion. The women of Turkey also 

 cook this insect in butter to fatten themselves. 



The plant is Helleborus viridis (Green Hellebore), commu- 

 nicated by Professor Henslow. 



