THE BEETLES 



3105 



European representative, while both are somewhat limited in the number of their 

 species. In the Lucanidce the antennae are ten jointed, with the first joint long and 

 set at an angle with the rest of the antennae, of which from three to seven of the last 

 joints are furnished with rigid tooth-like processes on one side. The outer lobe of 

 the maxillae ends in a pencil of hairs, while the inner lobe has very often the form 

 of a claw; the ligula is membranous or leathery in texture, and is attached to the 

 inner face of the mentum; the elytra cover over the abdomen, which on the ventral 

 side shows five or, in the male, six segments; and the tarsi are five jointed, with a 

 long slender spur projecting between the claws of the terminal joint, and carrying at 

 the end two long bristles. The male insects are remarkable for the massive devel- 

 opment of their jaws, which in many cases are forked and branched. The common 



1. Larva. 



GREAT BLACK WATER BEETLE. 



(Natural size.) 

 2. Male. 3. Female with egg cocoon. 



stag beetle {Lucanus cervus), one of the largest of European beetles, may, in the 

 case of full-sized males attain a length of over two inches, or, if the mandibles be in- 

 cluded, more than three inches. It is most abundant in the neighborhood of oak 

 woods, and in England is not uncommon in the southern counties, where the males 

 may be often observed on the wing on fine summer evenings, flying with a loud 

 hum. 



The Passalidce are a small family of about two hundred known species, which 

 are almost entirely restricted to the warmer parts of the world, the greater propor- 

 tion being found in America. In the form of the antennas and in some other 

 respects they show an affinity with the Lucanidce, though easily distinguished by 

 the characteristic of the mouth parts. The ligula is horny, and lies in a deep quad- 



