O R Y C T E S RH IN O C E R O S ?
P la te 1. fig. 2.
F a m il y . D y n a s t id æ , M a c Leaij.
G e n u s . O r y c t e s , I llig e r . S c a rabæ u s p. L in ti.
C ii. S p . 0 . th o ra c e su b b itu b e rcu la to , c ap itis co rn u simphc i, clypeo bifido, e lytris p u n c ta tis .
L o n g . Co rp . I f une.
O. with th e th o ra x depre ssed in fro n t, a n d with th e ru d im en ts o f two tube rc le s, he ad
with a single h o rn , clypeus bifid, e ly tra p u n c ta te . L en g th 1 in ch , 5 lines.
S y x . S c a rabæ u s R hinoc e ros, L in )i. S y s t . N a t . I . I I . p . 5 4 4 . F a b r ic iu s S y s t. E le u th .
1 . ^ . 14. R ù e s e l. In s . I I . S c a ra b . I . ta b . A . f . 7.
S c a rabæ u s Na sicornis, Do n o va n , I s i edit.
Donovan observed upon this species, which he considered as identical with the
European Oryctes nasicornis, that “ the male is furnished with a long recurved horn on
the head : the female has only a small rising on that part. It is found in Europe as well
as Ch ina .” It is evident, however, from the form o f the thorax, and striation o f the
elytra o f Donovan's figure, that he had confounded two distinct species. I have little
doubt that the insect here figured is intended for the Oryctes Rhinoceros, although the
elytra are not represented as being punctured.
O NIT ICE L LUS C IN C T U S .
P la te I . fig. 3.
PA-m il y . ScARABiEiD.E, M o c L c u y .
G e n u s . O n i t ic e l l u s , Z e iy le r . S c a rabæ u s p . F u b r icn is .
C h . S p . O n . n ig e r, e ly tro rum m a rg in e pa llid o , clypeo em a rg in a to . L o n g . Corp. lin. 4 ^ .
On. b la c k with th e ma rg in o f th e e ly tra p a le coloured, th e c lypeus n o tch ed . L en g th
4 ^ lines.
S y n . S c a rabæ u s c in c tu s, F a b r ic iu s E n t . S y s t . 1 . ^ . 6 9 . H e rb s t. Col. W .p . 327. n . 215.
Oliv . E n t . 1. 3. 169. 2 0 9 . t. 1 0 . / . 90.
Onitis c in c tu s , S c ko n h . S y n . In s . 1. p . 33. no. 20.
C O L E O P T E R A .
G e n u s .
(S ub-G e n .
C h . S p .
S y n .
SC A R A BÆ U S (H E L IO C A N TH A R U S ) SA N C T Ü S ?
P iu te 1. fig. 4.
S c a r a b æ u s , L in n . M a c L e a y . Ateuc iius, L a tr e ille , D e jca n .
H e l io c a n t h a r u s , M a c L e a y .)
S c. c u p reo -m ten s , clypeo 6-d e n ta to , th o ra c e s e rra to , e lytris stria tis. L o n e Corp
1 u n e . ‘
S c. b la c k slightly shining with bra ss o r coppe r, clypeus witli six te e th , th o rax with
th e ma rgins se rra ted , e ly tra stria ted . Len g th 1 inch.
Copris s an c tu s ? F a h r . S u p p l. E n t. S y s t. p . 34.
S c a rabæ u s sa c e r, D o n o v . 1st ed it.
S c a ra bæ u s s an c tu s , M a c L e a y , Hor<e E n t. p . 5 0 0 , va r . 3?
The insect here figured was regarded by Donovan as identical with the Scarabæus
sacer o f Linnæus, a species inhabiting the south o f Europe. “ It is,” he observes, “ a
native o f China, and is also found in other parts o f the East Indies, in Eo-ypt, Barbary
d ie Cape o f Good Hope, and other countries o f Africa, and throughout the south o f
Europe. The insects inhabiting these various countries are now ascertained to be
specifically distinct; so that the reference o f the species here figured to the Scarabæus
sacer cannot be adopted, and it is not improbable that it is identical with the sanctus o f
Fabricius.
T h is tribe o f insects is especially interesting from its containing the sacred beetle o f
the Egyptians, by whom it was regarded as a visible deity ; but a more refined system o f
religious worship prevailed in their temples among the priests and sages. They deemed
It only tlie symbol o f their god, and, ascribing both sexes to the beetle, it became a striking
emblem o f a self-created and supreme first cause.*
T h is insect was more especially the symbol o f their god Neith, whose attribute was
power supreme in governing the works o f creation, and whose glory was increased, rather
than dnnmished, by the presence o f a superior being, P litlia , the creator. The tlieological
definition o f tlie two powers, being independent, y e t centering in one spirit, is implied by
tlie figurative union o f two sexes in the beetle. In the latter sense it signified tlierefore
but one omnipotent power. The Scarabæus, typifying Neith. was caw ed or painted on
« ‘1 '» » ” S y n e s iu s . H ym n . P i i / » . - . . T h e E g y p tian sp irit
P h th a gave cliiios form, a n d then c re a ted all th in g s .” J am b lic h u s de M y s te r iis , sect. 8.