LUCANID^ — STAG-BEETLES. 25 



elephant the first time that he saw it, because this word 

 signified ox in his own language, and that he thus gave it 

 the name of the largest animal which he had ever before 

 seen. According to Pliny, who employed the word Lucani, 

 in speaking of the Horn-beetles, Nigridius was the first 

 who gave the name to these insects ; and this he did, most 

 probably, from their large size, and the resemblance of their 

 mandibles to horns. Dalechamp, however, thinks that the 

 name Lucaniis was given to the Horn-beetle only because 

 this insect was very common among the Lucanians, a 

 people of Italy. But it is probable, after what has been 

 above said, that the Lucanians themselves were thus named, 

 in consequence of the great numbers of oxen which they 

 reared. The common name, Flying-hull, given to this in- 

 sect in different languages, corresponds very well with that 

 given by Nigridius.^ 



A popular belief in Germany is, that the Stag-beetle, 

 Lucanus cervus, carries burning coals into houses by 

 means of its jaws, and that it has thus occasioned many 

 fearful fires, ^ 



In the New Forest of England, the Stag-beetle by the 

 rustics is called the DeviVs Imp, and is believed to be sent 

 to do some evil to the corn ; and woe be to this unfortunate 

 insect when met by these superstitious foresters, for it is 

 immediately stoned to death. A writer, in the Notes and 

 Queries,'^ states that he saw one of these insects actually 

 thus destroyed. 



Professor Bradley, of Cambridge, mentions the following 

 remarkable instance of insect strength in a Stag-beetle. 

 He asserts that he saw the beetle carry a wand a foot and 

 a half long, and half an inch thick, and even fly with it to 

 the distance of several yards.* Linnaeus observes, that if 

 the elephant was as strong in proportion as the Stag-beetle, 

 it would be able to tear up rocks and level mountains.^ 



Bingley has the following marvelous story of the sup- 

 posed rapacity of the Stag-beetle, which, it has been re- 

 marked, if not gravely stated by the reverend editor of the 



1 Cuvier's Animal Kingd. — Ins., i. 530. 



2 The Mirror, xix. 180; and Saturday Mag., xvi. 144. 

 3N. & Q., 2dS., ii. 88. 



4 Bradley, Phil. Account, p. 184. 



5 N. Diet, d'llist. Nat., xxii. 81. 



