184 HALF-HOURS IN THE GREEN LANES. 



prising height, although they have to repeat the 

 process sometimes, before they can manage to get 

 on their legs. Several species have this peculiar 

 hahit. Some of them are more interesting to the 

 general reader on account of their larvae being the 

 notorious " wire- worms," which commit such dreadful 

 ravages among crops. Well do they deserve this 

 name, not only on account of their attenuated 

 shapes, but their toughness as well, which is so great 

 that a garden roller passing over them cannot hurt 

 them, but only squeeze them further into the soil ! 

 In the destruction of this terrible pest, the crows 

 are the greatest friends and assistants the farmers 

 have, as is also the much despised mole, which, 

 although it may create a good deal of " hummocky " 

 ground, at any rate, destroys these pests as a 

 compensation. The harm done by the wire-worms 

 is increased by the fact that it is said to remain five 

 years in the ground, before it assumes the pupal stage. 

 The Stag beetle (Lucanus cervus), from its great 

 size, and the development of the jaws until they 

 resemble the antlers of a deer, cannot fail to be easily 

 recognised. You may possibly obtain your first ac- 

 quaintance with this insect by its flying in your face, 

 in which case the enormous mandibles will surely 

 leave their mark. This is one of the largest, if not 

 the largest, of our English beetles. It is only the 

 male, however, that possesses these formidable-look- 

 ing jaws, those of the female not being one-tenth the 

 size. Judging from these weapons, and the class to 



