

COLEOPTERA. 
een.” | ee 
SCARABAUS MOLOSSUS. 
SPECIFIC CHARACTER. 
Without feutellum. Thorax blunted, armed with two teeth, or horns: impreffed on each fide, Front of 
the head lunated; with a horn. Wing-cafes fmooth. 
Scarapmus Motossus: ex{cutellatus thorace retufo bidentato utrinque impreffo, clypeo lunato unicorni 
integro, elytris levibus. Linn. Sy/t. Nat. 2. 543. 3. 
Fab. Ent. Syft. 1. p. 51. 167.. 

S$. Moloffus and S. Bucephalus are very common in China, The firft feems a local fpecies, the Jatter is 
faid to be found in other parts of the Eaft Indies, Olivier has given three varieties of Scarabaeus Moloffus. 
The fpecimen figured in the annexed plate is the var. c. of that author. 
The larve of the larger kinds of coleopterous infects, abounding in unétuous moifture, are not lefs 
efteemed as food among fome modern nations, than they were by the epicures of antiquity. In Jamaica, 
and other iflands in the Weft Indies, the Macokko @ larva is an article of luxurious food; and in China 
moft infeéts in that ftate are appropriated to the fame purpofe. Thus alfo the Romans introduced the 
larve of the Lucani> and Cerambyes ¢ in their voluptuous repafts; previoufly feeding them on farinaceous 
fubftances to give confiftence to the animal juices. 
The learned author of the laft account we have of China, fays, “ Under the roots of the canes is found 
a large white grub, which being fried in oil is eaten as a dainty by the Chinefe.” Perhaps this is the larva 
of Scarabzeus Moloffus, which, like many other of the Scarabzei,‘ may live fedentary in the ground, and 
fubfift on the roots of plants: the general defcription and abundance of this infeét in China favours fuch 
The fame author obferves, in another part of his work, that “the aurelias of the flk worm 
opinion. 
This alfo is 
which is cultivated in China, after the filk is wound off, furnifh an article for the table.” 
a very ancient cuftom among the Afiatics, and even Europeans, before the fixteenth century, if we may 
credit Aldrovandus:® it is certain the worms, if not the aurelias, were adminiftered in medicine in early 
ages. f 
a Prionus damicornis. Fab. Ent. Sy/—Cerambyx damicornis. Zinn. Mant. 
b Stag beetles. e Capricorn, or Goat beetles. 
d The larve of the Scarab live in the trunks of decayed trees, in putrid and filthy animal fubftances, or in the earth. The 
laft are the moft injurious, becaufe they deftroy the roots of plants. All the known kinds of thefe larva are of an unwieldy 
form, and whitifh colour, the fkin free from hairs, and only the head and fore feet defended with a fhelly covering. 
¢ The German foldiers fometimes fry and eat filk worms. Aldrov. 
f Silk worms dried, powdered, and put on the crown of the head, help the vertigo and convulfions; mundify or cleanfe the 
blood, &c. &c. Schroderus, Serapio, Ge. Se. 

