42 FOREST ENTOMOLOGY. 



Fowler. These points should be thoroughly mastered, as the ready 

 discrimination of species from a systematic point of view will depend 

 upon the same. 



Family LUCANID^. 



Fowler says that " the three British genera of the Lucanidfie may 

 be distinguished as follows : — 



" I. Eyes more or less divided ; ligula and maxillse covered by the 

 mentum ; antennae geniculate ; posterior femora extending 

 beyond margin of elytra. 

 " 1. Eyes divided for scarcely half their diameter Lucanus, L. 

 " 2. Eyes divided for nearly the whole of their diameter 



Dorcus, M'Leay. 



"11. Eyes entire; ligula and maxilke not covered by mentum; 



antennae straight ; posterior femora not extending beyond 



margin of elytra . . . Sinodendron, F." 



Lucanus cervus (Linn.) 



This large handsome insect, which may be termed the king of 

 British beetles, is chiefly confined to the southern counties. It is of 



h 



Fig. ii.—Stag-hecUcs. 

 a, male : h, female, slightly reduced. 



a pitchy -black colour, with slightly brownish elytra, and often 

 measures about two inches in length. The mandibles are very large, 



