Stag Beetles or Pinch-Bugs 231 



of a circle, which has been pulled out at the two 

 ends and made longer than a true circle or ring. 

 The edges of the back of this queer baby extend 

 far beyond the real body of the creature so as to 

 cover it up like a bowl. Another odd thing about 

 it is that it can stick its head out or draw it back at 

 pleasure. Yes, boys, there are a lot of funny things 

 in this world and this beetle is one of them. 



STAG BEETLES OR PINCH-BUGS 



Fig. 169 is the pinch-bug, but it is not our 

 native American one. Tom Sawyer never saw a 

 pinch-bug like that represented in 169 and we only 

 use it because it makes a good diagram to show the 

 different parts of a beetle. The male pinch-bug 

 has larger pinchers than the female and is a rich 

 mahogany color and of a truculent temper. The 

 fact is that this beetle knows he has a means of 

 defending himself; he is always armed and hence 

 always ready for fight. When he comes blunder- 

 ing into the house through an open door or a raised 

 screen, bangs himself against the wall and falls 

 on the floor, he seems to think that the wall wanted 

 to put up a fight of some kind, so if he is fortu- 

 nate enough to fall on his feet instead of on his 



