of Chiasognathus Gr until. 211 



The mentum (PI. IX. Figs. 5. and 7.) is transverse, semicircular, 

 and notched anteriorly. 



The Antenna; are remarkable for the extraordinary elongation 

 of the basal joint and the whorl of hairs which ornament its tip ; the 

 remaining joints are short, the three first somewhat obconic, the 

 two following transverse and produced within, the four terminal 

 ones also produced within; the process being longer, and the 

 articulations more distinctly laminated. 



The furcate anterior portion of the head (clypeus), and above 

 all, the distinct existence of four eyes, as well as the great 

 strength of the fore legs, are characters of no little importance : 

 to which may be added the superb colours with which nearly 

 the entire insect is adorned ; the castaneous golden-bronze of the 

 elytra, the burnished golden-green of the gibbous centre of the 

 thorax, and the iridescent hues of its sides and of its posterior 

 spines, form an assemblage of intense tints rarely united into one 

 form. In fact every part of this unique insect possesses characters 

 of extreme interest, as may be clearly perceived through the 

 medium of the accompanying figures, executed by my friend 

 Mr. Westwood, who in his delineations observed several peculi- 

 arities which he kindly pointed out to me. 



The food of the Lucanida? consists of the flowing sap of de- 

 caying trees, which in the typical genus is lapped up by the four 

 plates or lacinise of the maxilla? and lower lip ; but in this insect 

 the very arched form of the mandibles appears to form an ob- 

 stacle to the application of the laminae to the tree unless the 

 mandibles be opened to a great extent, as may be readily seen by 

 the lateral view (PI. X. Fig. 3.) given in the accompanying figure. 



Respecting the affinities of this insect, the genus which makes 

 the nearest approach to it is evidently Pholidotus, with which it 



DD 2 



