"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." PRIONUS (MALLODON) MELANOPUS. Plate XXXVIII. fig. 2. ORDER: Coleoptera. SECTION: Longicornes. FAMILY: Prionidæ, _Leach_. GENUS. PRIONUS, _Geoffroy_. Cerambyx p. _Linn._ SUBGENUS. Mallodon, _Serv._ PRIONUS (MALLODON) MELANOPUS. Thorace marginato denticulato, mandibulis porrectis multidentatis, elytris ad apicem mucronatis. (Long. Corp. mandib. inclus. 2 unc. 3 lin.) SYN. Cerambyx Melanopus, _Linn. Syst. Nat._ 1. II. _p._ 623. 8. _Fabricius Sp. Ins._ 1. _p._ 208. 20. _Syst. Eleuth._ II. _p._ 264. 34. _Oliv. Ent._ iv. 66. _p._ 18. _t._ 12. _f._ 46. _Merian Ins. Surinam, t._ 24. _f._ 1. Cerambyx crenulatus, _Drury, App. vol._ 2. HABITAT: Jamaica (_Drury_). "In America Meridionali" (_Fabr._). Head short and black. Mandibles short. Antennæ dark brown, almost black; shorter than the insect. The thorax broad, rough and black, margined on the posterior and anterior edges; having many small sharp spines on its sides, the two last of which are larger than the rest, and having two tubercles on the upper side. Elytra dark brown, almost black, margined on the sides and suture, with a small spine on each, at the extremities, and extending a little beyond the anus. Abdomen smooth and shining, and of a dark brown colour, nearly black. Sides of the breast hairy. Legs dark brown, almost black, smooth and shining, with three small tibial spurs. PRIONUS (MALLODON) MAXILLOSUS. Plate XXXVIII. fig. 3. ORDER: Coleoptera. SECTION: Longicornes. FAMILY: Prionidæ, _Leach_. GENUS. PRIONUS, _Geoffroy_. Cerambyx p. _Linn._ SUBGENUS. Mallodon, _Serv._ PRIONUS (MALLODON) MAXILLOSUS. Thorace marginato crenato, mandibulis porrectis intus hirsutis quadridentatis, elytris ad apicem mucronatis. (Long. Corp. fere 2 unc. 3 lin.) SYN. Cerambyx Maxillosus, _Drury, App. vol._ 2. _Fabricius Syst. Ent. p._ 163. 151. _Syst. Eleuth._ II. _p._ 264. 31. (Prionus m.) _Oliv. Ent._ iv. 66. _p._ 16. _t._ 1. _f._ 3.