ORDER COLEOPTERA. 



CLAVICOKNES. 



B} riliidse. 



No species of this family have been found in this State. 



Histeridse. 



HisTER O0NFORMI8. ( Plate xxxi, fig. 8.) 



Color black : thorax bluish black, smooth, polished ; elytra without punctures, striate ; 

 strise obsolete. Length one-tenth of an inch. 



lAMELLICORNES. 



Lucanidcie. 



Genus LUCANUS ( Linn.). 



< Depressed mandibles of the male very lai-ge ; female moderate : club of the antennte 

 ' four-jointed, pectinated' (West wood). 



LucANus DAMA ( Fab.). L. capriolus (Linn.). ( Plate xii, lig. 7.) 



The insect is large, dark chestnut-brown, smooth and plain ; thighs lighter : mandibles 



of the male long and powerful ; female less powerful than the male. Length about 



IJ or 1| inch. 

 The male Lucanus may be recognized by its large and toothed mandibles, which stand 

 out so prominently in front. The female diflFers from the male in the smallnessof its head, 

 which is partially concealed beneath the labrum and the oblique trimcation of the lateral 

 margin of the thorax. There is a considerable variation in the size of the individuals. It 

 is not an imcommon species in New- York and New-England. The larvae inhabit the trunks 

 of decaying trees, or in wood. 



Platyceras piceus. (Plate xii, figs. 10, 11.) 



The Genus Platyceras belongs to this group. The mandibles are shorter than those of 

 the Lucanus, in both sexes : it is also a much smaller insect. 



Color brown ; elytra distinctly punctate ; mandibles exsert, and each shows a strong 

 curved subcentral tooth : in the female, the mandibles are shorter and less con- 

 spicuous. Length from one-half to six-tenths of an inch. 

 Fig. 10, male ; 11, female, with mandibles, autennse and an elytrum. 



