BEETLES. 59 



The Stag-JBeetle. (Lucanus Dama.) 



This is an Insect known to almost everybody. It 

 is an inch and a half long, of a chestnut colour, with 

 prominent pincher-like jaws, which, however, in the 

 female, are very short, and not larger than those of the 

 Horned Passalus. Its legs are quite long, and terminate 

 in two sharp claws. 



They are called Stag-beetles on account of their 

 pronged jaws, similar to the horns of stags'. They live 

 principally upon oak trees, and lick the dew from the 

 trees, as well as the sweet brown juice which oozes out 

 from the stem of oak trees, and if you put honey on 

 the point of a knife they will follow after it, as a dog 

 will follow a piece of meat. They may be seen flying 

 around these trees towards night in the months of July 

 and August. 



These Beetles are well known to our youth, and 

 attract their attention by their singular form, but par- 

 ticularly by their prominent jaws, with which they 

 pinch very hard. Wood-cutters often bring them 

 home as playthings for their children, for which present, 

 however, the little fellows sometimes have to pay with 

 their tears. In some countries the boys make tiny 

 wagons, which they load with cherries or raspberries, 

 and to which, for their amusement, they harness these 

 Beetles, making them as beasts of draught. 



