STRUCTURE OF THE JAW. 



97 



the finest foreign Stag Beetles is Cladognathiis giraffa, wliicli is 

 represented in tlie accompanying illustration. There is nothing 

 remarkable in the colouring of this insect, which is very much 

 like that of our own Stag Beetle, i.e. brown-black, with a tinge 

 of chestnut-red on the elytra. But it is a very striking insect 

 on account of its size and the shape of its formidable jaws. 

 Tlieir usual form in the fully developed male is shown m the 

 illustration. They bear some resemblance to the gnarled boughs 

 of a leafless oak-tree, and hence have secured for the genus the 

 name of Cladognathus, i.e. " branch-jaw." 



Pig. 44. — Cladognathus giratfa. Male. 

 (Brown-Wack.) 



The reader will probably notice that the upper portion of each 

 jaw is formed into three strong teeth, the third of which is much 

 the largest. In no instance do these teeth exactly coincide with 

 each other in both jaws, but in every case one is placed a little 

 higher or lower than its companion tootli, so that when the jaws 

 are closed the teeth cross each other, but do not meet. Beside 

 these three principal teeth there is a row of saw-like projections 

 on the inner side of the jaws, and at the base is a large rounded 

 projection which seems to serve the purpose of adding to the 

 firmness of the articulation. In colour the jaws are shining 

 black. 



