THE ANTELOPE BEETLE. 125 



The genus is distinguished from Lucanus by the comparative 

 shortness of the jaws in the male, and the club of the antennae, 

 which is more leaf-like than that of the Stag Beetle. In the 

 female the jaws are comparatively small and simple. It is not 

 a pretty Beetle as far as colour goes, for it is dull, dead-black, 

 the whole of the surface being covered with very fine punctures. 

 In the male these are very much finer on the head and thorax 

 than on the elytra, so that these members have a sort of gloss 

 somewhat resembling that of a new black kid glove. If the 

 head be examined, the eyes will be seen to be nearly severed 

 by the margins of the head, which overlap them considerably in 

 front, though not behind. 



This insect is found plentifully in those parts of the country 

 where tlie Stag Beetle abides, and, in consequence, is very 

 common along the Thames valley of Kent. It is, however, to 

 be seen in places where the Stag Beetle does not live, for in 

 the late Mr. Hope's note-book I found a memorandum, stating 

 that in 1820 he had caught the Dorcus at Oxford, where the 

 Stag Beetle is, as above-mentioned, not known. My own 

 specimens were taken in Wiltshire. Like the Stag Beetle, 

 this insect lives in rotten wood, the female digging holes in 

 which she may lay her eggs, the powerful fore-legs being used 

 for the purpose. 



Although, as has been already stated, this insect has no 

 popular name, there is no reason why it should not have one. 

 We will therefore confer one upon it by literally trans'.ating its 

 scientific title, and will call it the Antelope Beetle. 



