STAG-BEETLE. 83 



the written character (in a domestic situation) of one whom 

 you are pleased to designate a Caliban." " After a time (says 

 his master) he became quite tame and playful, and sometimes 

 amused himself by tossing about a ball of cotton with his 

 horns. He was very fond of sugar moistened, and the juice 

 of raspberries. There's a pet for you ! so delicate in feeding 

 and playful as a fawn ; and now for his name. He is not a 

 fawn exactly ; but he is a stag Lucanus cervus Stag-beetle. 

 We have said not a word as yet about his horns ; but we have 

 told you of his yaws; and though of horns he is not destitute, 

 the enormous toothed appendages to which he owes his name 

 are veritable grinders. To look at, they are in truth, tremen- 

 dous weapons ; but they are innocent of all save vegetable 

 blood ; and used only to wound the tender branches of oak, or 

 birch, or chestnut, for extraction of their circulating fluid. It 

 is possible, indeed, that, with intent most harmless, he might 

 mistake a lady's finger for a silver birch-twig, or a peeled band 

 of hazel, and sorely pinch it even to the flowing of the 

 crimson sap : of this, therefore, let his mistresses beware." 



When speaking of our "Love among the roses," we noted 

 the curious Lamince, or leaf-like appendages, with which each 

 of its antennas terminate. Those of the Stag-beetle are some- 

 what similarly furnished ; for which reason he, as well as 

 the chafer, has been classed as a Lamellicorn beetle, though 

 of a group or tribe entirely distinct. As connected and in 

 admirable adaptation with these elegant antenna and their 



