122 INSECTS AT HOME. 



TiiF family of the Lucanidas is represented in England by 

 four genera, but by very few species, only one Britisli species 

 belonging to each genns. This family may at once be known by 

 the club of the antennas, which, tliougli farmed of a series of 

 plates, is unlike that of the other Lamellicornes, in that the 

 plates cannot be folded together, and are an-anged so as to 

 look as if the club were simply pectinated. The claws have a 

 very slender secondary claw inside them. Besides these ex- 

 ternal modifications of structure, the internal anatomy of the 

 LucanidsD differs from that of the other Lamellicornes, the 

 nervous system being distributed in a manner which at present 

 is not known in any of the Lamellicornes which have been 

 dissected. In the males the mandibles are enormously de- 

 veloped, and, in consequence of these distinctions, many 

 entomologists have thought that the LucanidjB ought not to 

 belong to the Lamellicornes, but to be formed into a group 

 by themselves. The name of Pectinicornes, or 'combed 

 antennce,' has been suggested as an appropriate title. As to 

 this proposed alteration, Mr. Eye very judiciously remarks, 

 that such a change ought not to be made until all the known 

 Lamellicornes have been dissected, and tlieir nervous system 

 examined. 



The genus Lucanus is distinguished by the flattened body, 

 the apparently pectinated four-jointed club of the antennas, 

 and the enormous jaws of the male, which are often half as 

 long as tlie head, thorax, and body togetlier. Our only British 

 species is the well-known Stag Beetle {Lucanus cervus\ yvhich 

 derives its popular name from the jaws of the male, which 

 look somewhat like the horns of a stag. In some parts of the 

 country it goes by the name of Horn-bl'G. A figure of this 

 fine insect is shown on Plate V. Fig. 4, tlie Beetle being repre- 

 sented in the act of flying. 



This is the largest of the British Beetles, as it sometimes 

 attains a length of nearly three inches. The size, however, is 

 extremely variable, as some males are barely half that length, 

 and have their jaws comparatively small and weak. These are 

 generally called undeveloped males, their inferiority being 

 probably due to a want of food wliile in tlie larval state. Lest, 

 however, a small and degenerate race of Stag Beetles should 

 be perpetuated, the males always fight for possession of the 



