COLEOPTERA. — LUCANIDjE. 189 



parallelipepidus in his memoir upon that insect, published in the 

 Mag. Nat. Hist. (No. Si.), and whicli resides both in the larva 

 and imago state in company with Sinodendron cylindricum in rotten 

 ash-trees. (See also Gardener s Magazine, No. 78. for additional 

 particulars relative to these two insects.) Dr. Ratzeburg has also 

 figured the former species in its different states (^Forst. Insecten, vol. i. 

 tab. 3. f. 19.), and my Jig. 18. 8. is copied from his figure of the larva 

 of D. paralellipepidus. Fig- 18. 9. represents the maxilla, and 

 Jig. 18. 10. the labium of the larva of an exotic species of Lucanus, 

 copied from De Haan's work, above referred to. 



According to Mad. Merian, the larva of the exotic Passalus inter- 

 ruptus (which she has figured in its various states, Ins. Sarin, pi. 50.) 

 feeds upon the Battata, and resembles a thick fleshy worm with a small 

 scaly head, six legs, and the hinder extremity of the body slender; 

 and in collections of unpublished drawings, by Abbott, of North 

 American insects, in the possession of W. Swainson and W. Raddon, 

 Esqs.^ I have observed representations of the transformations of another 

 species of this genus, the larva resembling that of the Stag-beetle, 

 but represented with only two pairs of legs. It is recorded to have 

 been found in rotten wood. M. Percheron has also given a figure of 

 the larva of this genus in his 3Io7iographie des Passales. 



I am indebted to Mr. Ingpen for specimens of the larva of Sino- 

 dendron cylindricum found in rotten oak, and which does not ma- 

 terially vary in structure from the larva of the Lucanus. My Jig. 18. ii. 

 represents the male perfect insect (which is remarkable for having the 

 mandibles not exposed). Fig. 18. 12. represents its instrumenta 

 labialia*, and Jig. 18. 13. its larva. 



The insects of this family are very interesting in respect to their 

 relations with other groups, and which clearly prove that the suc- 

 cession of natural affinities does not exist in a continuous and linear 

 series, since, if such were the case, it is evident that no animal could 

 claim more than two relationships, namely, with those immediately 

 preceding and following it. That the Lucanidae are very nearly allied 

 to the Scaraba;idffi has never been denied, and their affinity with the 

 Histeridffi has been proved by Mr. MacLeay. They have, however, 

 other relations, which are equally strong with the latter, and which 



* IVIr. Curtis's figures of these parts, given in the HorcB Enfomohgic(B, and in the 

 Illustrations, arc at variance with each other, as well as with nature. The insect 

 forms a, remarkable exception in the family, from having the labium (or ligula) en- 

 tirely exserted, and not concealed by a large basal mentum. 



