66 ORDER COLEOPTERA- 



('LAYH'OKNKS. 



Byrrhidse. 



V specf( - of this family have been found in this State. 



Efisteridae. 



Histkr conkormis. ( Plate xxxi, lis;. 8.) 



■i- black : thorax bluish Mack, smooth, polished; elytra without punctures, striate; 

 striae obsolete. Length one-tenth of an inch. 



LAMELLIOJRNES. 



Lucanidae. 



Genus tUCANUS (Linn.). 



' Depressed mandibles of the male very large ; female moderate : club of the antenna? 

 • four-jointed, pectinated' (Westwood). 



Licams dama (Fab.). L. capriolus ( Linn.). ( Plate xii, fig. 7.) 



The insect is large, dark chestnut-brown, smooth and plain ; thighs lighter : mandibles 



of the male long and powerful ; female less powerful than the male. Length about 



1 \ or 1| inch. 



The male Lucanus may be recognized by its large and toothed mandibles, which stand 



out so prominently in front. The female differs from the male in the smallness of its head, 



which is partially concealed beneath the labium and the oblique truncation of the lateral 



margin of the thorax. There is a considi Fable variation in the size of the individuals. It 



is n >t an uncommon species in New-York and New-England. The larva; inhabit the trunks 



<>f decaying trees, or in wood. 



Platyceras piceus. (Plate xii, figs. 10, 11.) 



The Genu< Pi.atyceras belongs to this group. The mandibles are shorter than those of 

 the Lvcasi is, in both sexes : it is also a much smaller insect. 



i- brown : elytra distinctly punctate ; mandibles exsert, and each shows a strong 

 curved subcentral tooth : in the female, the mandibles are shorter and less con- 

 spicuous. Length from one-half to six-tenths of an inch. 

 Fig 10, male ; I], female, with mandibles, antennae and an elytrurn. 



