BEETLES. 35 



than a quarter of an inch long, and clothed with silvery hairs on 

 the under surface, may be taken as an example of the family. 

 Elmis JEneus, Miill., is a bronzy-black species, about one- twelfth of 

 an inch in length, with reddish antennae. 



Family XVII. — Heteroceridce. 



Tarsi four-jointed ; front tibiae enlarged, spiny, and serrated ; 

 antennae short, the two first joints large and triangular; body 

 oval, clothed with fine silky pubescence. 



The species of this family are semi-aquatic, and live gregariously 

 in the mud by the side of ponds. Heterocerus Marginatus, Fabr., is 

 a brown species, about one-twelfth of an inch in length. 



SECTION v.— Laihellicornia. 



Antennae short, nine- or ten- jointed, and terminated by a large 

 abrupt three-jointed lamellated or pectinated club; tarsi five- 

 jointed, outside of front tarsi always serrated ; habits herbivorous. 



Many large and handsome beetles, both British and foreign, 

 belong to this section, which includes the Stag Beetles, Chafers, etc. 



Family I. — Lucanidce. 



Antennae angulated, ten-jointed, with a large pectinate club; 

 mandibles (except in the genus Fassalus and its allies) verj'' large, 

 especially in the males. 



This family includes the Stag Beetles, the type of which is 

 Liccanus Cervus, Linn. It is a blackish insect, with brown wing- 

 cases, and the males vary very much both in size and in the 

 development of their mandibles. The beetles measure from one to 

 more than two inches in length, and the large specimens exceed 

 any other British beetle in size. In the female the mandibles are 

 always small. The Stag Beetle may often be found in woods, 

 resting on or near the roots of trees. The. larva is a large fleshy 

 grub, which feeds on the wood of trees ; and some writers think 

 that this was the Cossus, which the Eomans regarded as a delicacy, 

 and used to fatten with flour. The Eoman Cossus may, however, 

 have been the larva of Onjdes Nasicornis. It is almost certain that 

 it was a large wood-feeding beetle, and not the larva of the Goat Moth 

 {Xyleutes Cossus), although Linne applied the name to the latter. The 

 beetle feeds on the sap of trees, etc., and is- said to saw off the ends 



