THE LUCANID^. 28 1 



which resembles the shape of AtciicJuis sacer, but it has a bril- 

 Hant golden colour, which was supposed to have been an in- 

 vention of the artists of the days of the Pyramids, but this is 

 not the case; and the coloured AtetccJms was found, in 1819, by 

 M. Cailliaud, and it is not rare in Sennaar, 



There are some ScarabcBidcs which live in Europe, and are 

 smaller than the sacred beetles, but which have the same habits. 

 One kind, which is very common in France, is named after the 

 pill of dung it carries about, and is called Gyvinopleurus piluJariiis. 

 Another species, which has a thick body and long hind legs, 

 is named after Sisyphus, and is sometimes found in the environs 

 of Paris. 



The last tribe of the family of the ScarabceidcB we have to 

 notice comprehends the genus Passalus, and contains very large 

 beetles, which have long flat bodies, the prothorax separated 

 from the trunk by a waist, antennse bowed, and spined fore 

 legs. All have a brilliant black colour, and inhabit the American 

 continent, the East Indies, and Australia. They live in the 

 trunks of old trees, and hide beneath the bark, and the flatten- 

 ing of their bodies enables them to do this. The larva;, which 

 live upon decaying wood, whilst they resemble for the most 

 part those of the ScarabmdcB^ have a peculiar construction, which 

 proves that their development is not far advanced. Their first 

 and second pairs of legs are as long as usual, but those of the 

 third pair only exist as little tubercles. 



The LiLcanidcB, or the Stag Beetle family, were formerly in- 

 cluded amongst the Scarabcsidce, but their longer antennae and 

 peculiar form give them a different aspect. There are also 

 some differences in the larvae ; and it is now proved that the 

 nervous system, which is very centralised in the Scarabccidce, is 

 much less so in the Lticanida;. The two families are therefore 

 separated by structural differences. 



The Lticaiiidce are usually very large insects, whose males are 

 well known on account of the enormous size of their mandibles. 

 These structures, which belong to the mouth, are differently 

 curved and toothed, according to the species, and they look like 

 large pincers, and give the beetles a very formidable appearance. 

 It is impossible, from our present knowledge, to account for the 



