Plate XXXVIII. fig. 1.
ORDER: Coleoptera. SECTION: Longicornes. FAMILY: Prionidæ, _Leach_.
GENUS. PRIONUS, _Geoffroy_. Cerambyx p. _Linn._ SUBGENUS. Stenodontes,
_Serv._
PRIONUS (STENODONTES) DAMICORNIS. Thorace marginato denticulato,
mandibulis porrectis bidentatis, elytris brunneis. (Long. Corp. mandib.
inclus. 3 unc. 7½ lin.)
SYN. Cerambyx Damicornis, _Linn. Mant._ 1. _p._ 532. _Fabricius Syst.
Ent. p._ 162. 10. _Syst. Eleuth._ II. _p._ 262. 23. (Prionus d.) _De Geer
Ins._ v. _p._ 97. 2.
Lucanus fuscus maximus, _Browne Nat. Hist. Jamaica, p._ 429. _t._ 44.
_f._ 8. _Sloane Jamaica, vol._ 2. _tab._ 37. _fig._ 6.
HABITAT: Jamaica (_Drury_). America (_Fabricius_).
{81}Head dark brown, almost black, broad, large and rough on the top;
mandibles triangular and sharp pointed, bending or inclining towards each
other; somewhat longer than the head, and a little hairy within; having a
tooth or spine on the inner edge, near the point, and another near the
base. Thorax of the same colour as the head; very rough and uneven at
top, being margined on the anterior and posterior edges; the sides being
thin and serrated. Antennæ, rather shorter than the insect, and placed
before the eyes. Scutellum triangular. Elytra brown and margined, not
reaching to the anus. Abdomen and legs dark red brown. The tibiæ with
three small spurs.
The larva of this beetle is a great fleshy grub, which lives in the stumps
of tree. It is eaten by many persons, by whom it is considered a great
dainty. The perfect insect is called by the natives the macokko beetle. The
following observations, published by Mr. Drury in the introduction to his
third volume, will be read with interest from the spirit of practical
utility in which they are written.
"The larvæ or caterpillars, not only of this but of all the beetles that
feed on decayed wood, seem to be rich and delicate eating, particularly
those of the Curculio palmarum (vid. Linn. Syst. Nat. p. 606. 1.), and in
general all those of the Cerambyces. So that every forest in the torrid
zone affords a man plenty of very wholesome and hearty nourishment, who has
an instrument strong enough to cut in pieces the decayed trees. This
knowledge might have saved the lives perhaps of many seamen who have been
shipwrecked on desert equinoctial shores, which are generally covered with
thick woods. Mr. Smeathman has met with many maritime people, who, by
living on a scanty allowance of unripe fruits, crude roots, coarse seeds,
nuts, and other trash, after a shipwreck, or in other cases of distress so
frequent with people in the African trade, have made themselves exceeding
sick, and much increased their hardships, which by means of these
caterpillars only, might have been greatly alleviated. The very best kind
of vegetable food is but poor nourishment for the labouring Europeans, if
not accompanied with animal flesh, or at least with animal or vegetable
oils; and such foods as seamen in distress meet with, as above mentioned,
have oftentimes very acrimonious qualities, and are dangerous even in small
quantities to those who eat them at intervals, either out of mere curiosity
or to gratify their appetites; while these kinds of insect foods, abounding
with a very rich and delicious oil, are consequently the most wholesome and
nutritious which men in the situation above described could possibly
procure, requiring no other preparation than roasting in any manner. (See
Philosophical Transactions.) To this kind of food may be added that of the
termites and locusts in general among the insect tribes, which are not only
wholesome to all, but palatable to many. At any rate they are sufficient to
support life; and the knowledge of such a resource universally extended,
might in many instances be the means of saving the lives of adventurers to
distant climes. Besides these means of subsistence, if the botanists could
point out a plain and obvious method for men in general to distinguish the
noxious roots and herbs from those which are edible, men thrown on any
thing but mere rocks and sandbanks would readily find subsistence, the kind
hand of nature being extended all over the {82}surface of our globe to
every one who will accept the friendly invitation, and use the means she
has with such a motherly tenderness offered for our benefit and support.
"Mr. Smeathman has assured me, that in clearing the ground in Africa he has
found great quantities of roots of the yam and potatoe kind (Convolvulus
Batatas), that grew spontaneously, and which the slaves from distant
interior regions knew exceedingly well, and sought for with great avidity.
He lived near two years in Africa before he found that the most excellent
greens for boiling grew wild in every open glade of the island, and even
close to his very door. I mention these things because they are all within
the power of men in the most naked, unarmed, and unprepared situation, and
require neither fire-arms or other powerful apparatus to obtain them; and
shew that in these cases, as well as many others, the study of natural
history is of no small importance to mankind, since it may not only promote
trade, arts, and sciences, but be conducive to the immediate happiness and
safety of men's lives."