158 CAMPS IN THE CARIBBEES. 
dible is lined on its under surface with velvety hairs. 
The beetle would seize hold of a small branch of a 
tree, exactly as we would grasp it between the thumb 
and forefinger. Then it would, with its wings, whirl 
itself round and round, slowly at first, but increasing, 
so rapidly as to produce a continuous buzz or whir. 
This it would keep up until the limb was severed. 
The reason for this I could not find out. The beetle 
lives on rotten wood, it is thought, and in cutting 
into these branches it may be in search of food. But 
the most plausible reason is, that it is calling its mate. 
This is strengthened by the fact that the females are 
not furnished with these mandibles. It flies high in 
the air among the trees at night; it burrows in the 
ground, beneath leaves and in decayed wood, in the 
daytime. Being strictly nocturnal in its habits, it is 
seldom found, unless, as in the present instance, it 
goes in search of the coll€ctor. 
It is the largest known beetle in the world, the 
specimen in my possession being six and one quarter 
inches in length. The only species approaching it in 
size is the Goliath-beetle of the African coast, which 
is broader than this, but not so long. Guiana is the 
home of this beetle, and he has never been found out 
of South America except in this one island of Do- 
minica. Well is he called the Hercules, for that 
is his name, Dynastes Hercules; and modestly he 
bears his title, for he does not presume upon his size 
and strength to annoy man or ill-treat his insect neigh- 
bors. He is a strict vegetarian, and leads a happy, 
careless life among the tree-tops at night, and upon 
the ground during the day. 
The only specimen I was able to bring with me 
