908 



FAMILY XLIX. — LTTCANID^,. 



Throughout the State; frequent. April 10-October 25. Occurs 

 in and about decaj'ing beech, oak and other logs. 



V. Passalus Fabr. 1792. (Gr., "a post or peg.") 



Mentum dec])ly emarginate, the notch being filled by the large 

 horn-like ligula ; anteunjT stout, not elbowed, but in repose so curved 

 as to appear so; body distinctly pedunculate, the scutelltim in front 

 of the base of elytra. One species occurs throughout the United 

 States, 



*1721 ir,4-J4). rASSALi^s coKKUTUS Fab., Syst. Eleut, II, 1801, 256. 



Elongate, somewhat flat- 

 tened, parallel, robust Black, 

 shining. Head armed witb a 

 short, bent hook. Thorax quad- 

 rate, angles rounded; disk 

 smooth, with a deep median 

 impressed line, El,vtra deeply 

 striate, the striae finely punc- 

 tured. Length 32-3C> mm. (Fig, 

 C.5S.) 



This well-known spe- 

 cies, connnonly known as 

 the "horn" or "bess-bee- 



Fig 3o8 larva: h, pwpa; c. beetle; d, hind leg of larva, showing ^^'^' C C U r S abundantly 

 atrophied joints; e, same, enlarged. (After Riley,) thrOUS'llOUt the State, It 



hili(-rnatos in its usual 

 abiding places, the juicy depths of half-decayed lotjs and stumps. 

 They are often utilized as horses by country children, the horn 

 furnishing an inviting projection to which may be fastened, by a 

 thread or cord, chips and pieces of bark to be dratiged about by the 

 strong and never-lagging beast of burden. AYhen tired of "play- 

 ing horse" they can make of the insect an instrument of music; 

 for, when held by the body, it emits a creaking, hissing noise, pro- 

 duced by rubbing the abdoiiK^n up and down against the inside of 



7 the hard, horny wing covers. The larva is remarkable in having 

 onh- the four front leus of normal size, the hind pair being aborted. 



j January ll-Noveinber 26. 



VI. Nuworp I.e.-. ism, (Or,, "tdlead in victory,") 



The only member nl' this i^ciins, usually p]a<'ed amoni;' the Seara- 

 ba^ida^, has l)c'cii rernitly transferriMl to the present family. It 

 differs widely in appearance from the other Lucanida\ more re- 

 sembling a nearly smooth Trox. The joints of the antennal club 



