The Elephant Beetle. 557 



THE ELEPHANT BEETLE, 



(Scardbceus, or Dynastes Eleplias,) 



Is found in South America, particularly in Guiana and 

 Surinam, as well as near the river Orinoko. It is one of 

 the largest beetles of its kind ; it is black, and the whole 

 body is covered with a very hard shell, quite as thick 

 and as strong as that of a small crab. Its length, from 

 the hinder part to the eyes, is almost four inches ; and 

 from the same part to the end of the large horn on the 

 head (from the resemblance of which to the proboscis of 

 an elephant, and its great size, the beetle has obtained 

 its name) four inches and three quarters. The trans- 

 verse diameter of the body is two inches and a quarter ; 

 and the breadth of each case, for the wings, upwards of 

 an inch. The horns are about an inch long, and termi- 

 nate in points. The head-horn is an inch and a quarter 

 long, and turns upwards, making a crooked line termi- 

 nating in two horns, each of which is nearly a quarter of 

 an inch long. Above the head is a prominence, or small 

 horn, which, if the rest of the trunk were away, would 

 cause this part to resemble the horn of a rhinoceros. 

 There is, indeed, a beetle named after that animal, whose 

 lower horn resembles this : its scientific name is Oryctes 

 Rhinoceros. 



