ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 59 



Linnaean Society, especially to a paper of his own on Diopsis, 

 a very singular genus of Diptera, having the eyes placed on 

 long foot-stalks. Mr. Westwood will continue to report any 

 entomological matter that may come before that Society. 



The Rev. F. W. Hope read a paper by himself, technically 

 describing some newly-discovered and very remarkable forms 

 of Coleopterous Insects, which we should have been pleased 

 to publish, but we accidentally heard that Mr. Hope intended 

 them for some other destination. When this is the case we 

 shall make it an imperative rule to be silent. Beautifully 

 finished drawings, illustrative of the species described, were 

 exhibited. 



The Curator then came to the table, and with that air 

 of genuine modesty which is ever the companion of true 

 genius, made the following communication. I believe it 

 has been supposed by several writers, that the mandibles 

 of Lucanus (the Stag-beetle) are designed for perforating 

 the bark of trees, and thus causing the sap to flow, on 

 which the insect is said to feed ; but I do not recollect 

 ever seeing this confirmed on positive authority. During the 

 past summer I kept a stag-beetle alive for several weeks : I 

 allowed him to bite my finger with his mandibles, which he 

 did with great strength and perseverance for some seconds ; 

 and immediately, on relaxing his hold, applied alternately 

 one of his antennae and the galea of his maxillae to the inden- 

 tation, as if to ascertain whether any moisture was flowing from 

 the wound. The stag-beetle has a small patch of golden- 

 coloured hair near the base of the fore-leg, the use of which, I 

 believe, has never been pointed out: — it is evidently for the 

 purpose of cleaning the antennae, which, after touching 

 saccharine fluids, become sticky. The insect does this in the 

 most adroit manner, bending back the antenna and placing 

 it beneath the leg, and then drawing it out slowly. The 

 specimen which I had became after a time tame and playful, 

 sometimes amusing himself by tossing about a ball of cotton 

 with his horns. He was very fond of sugar moistened, and of 

 the juice of raspberries. 



The President alluded to the lamented death of Mr. 

 Haworth ; and proposed that a minute should be made ex- 

 pressive of the esteem of the Society for the deceased, and 

 regret at his loss. 



