﻿of Lucanoid Coleoptera. 6 



based upon it is equally at variance with the natural grouping of 

 species ; for we occasionally find individuals of the same species 

 both with and without their proper complement of spines. Where 

 two species in every respect assimilate to each other except in 

 regard to the spines on the tibiae, the absence or presence of these 

 ought not, I think, to separate them. 



There are two very remarkable characters of this group hitherto 

 but slightly noticed by Entomologists, which, although not avail- 

 able for the purpose of generical or sectional division, are yet, for 

 the purpose of specific determination, of very great interest. I 

 refer to the development of the mandibles and to the punctuation. 

 The extraordinary difference in the development of the mandibles 

 is not easily to be accounted for ; under what circumstances the 

 larger insect is provided with small undeveloped mandibles, and a 

 smaller specimen of the same species with those organs fully 

 developed, must always remain a mystery. But of this I feel 

 certain, that the whole character of numerous species varies (with 

 reference to their punctuation) in accordance with the development 

 of the mandibles. When these have obtained their full growth the 

 sculpture of the species has entirely changed, and in fact frequently 

 disappears altogether ; and when the development is but small or 

 moderate the sculpture becomes more definite, often resembling 

 that of the females, in which it is almost invariably stronger ; in 

 fact, these small undeveloped males approximate so closely to 

 their females that I could name well-known Entomologists who 

 have been even led into the error of describing them as such. Is 

 it possible that these small males may be found upon closer 

 anatomical examination to be neuters? It is a point of great 

 interest, and well worthy of deeper investigation. 



With these facts before me, I have been much perplexed, and 

 have, therefore, abstained for the present from suggesting any 

 decided characters of those new sections. I feel the necessity of 

 such characters being pointed out, but on this occasion my aim is 

 only to present the student with a revised catalogue of the various 

 species, and although errors will doubtless occur, still I trust that 

 my labour may not prove altogether in vain. 



Descriptions of New, and Notes on some of the rarer. Species. 



The descriptions of some of the species hereafter mentioned 

 have already been published in the " Proceedings of the Ento- 

 mological Society" for December, 1862, with a view to their in- 

 corporation in the present catalogue ; to these are joined others of 

 new and rare species, of which several have been lately added to 



