HYPOCEPHALUS. 
37 
The following are the dimensions of my specimen (which is, 
I believe, the only one existing in any of the Metropolitan 
cabinets *). 
LINES (ENGLISH.) f 
Length of the Mandibles ....... 3 
— — Head ......... 5^ 
— — Prothorax . . . . . . .13 
— — Elytra (and Scutellum) . . . . . . 15 
- 36£ 
Length of the Antennas ....... 4 
Breadth of the Prothorax (across the middle) . . . . 10^ 
— — Elytra.10 
M. Desmarest’s specimen is only 2-^ inches or 55J millemetres 
long, whilst that described by Gistl is still smaller, being 2-^ 
inches long. 
From the large size of the hind legs, we might at first consider 
the insect to be capable of leaping, but its whole form contradicts 
such a notion, and leads us to conjecture that it is a slow and sluggish 
creature; indeed Dr. Ericlison states that he had been informed 
by the late Prince of Neuwied, that he had taken the insect creep¬ 
ing on the ground. Mr. Melly, on the contrary, informs me that 
three specimens he had received were reported to have been found 
in the carcase of a dead horse. From the formidable appearance 
of the mouth-organs, we might also at first consider the insect to 
be highly rapacious ; but when we examine them in detail, we find 
a formation evidently unfitted for carnivorous habits; indeed the 
mandibles are so formed that if their inner edges are brought 
together they meet in a nearly straight line, or rather the tips are 
slightly bent outwards , so as to lead to the idea that the creature 
cannot by any possibility bite. Again, the maxillse and labium are 
very minute, whilst the two deflexed horns at the sides of the 
mouth appear quite in the way, were the insect a rapacious one. 
My friend, Professor Burmeister, having examined my specimen 
of the insect and the accompanying figures, has favoured me with the 
following observations upon its natural relations. 
London, 14th June, 1841. 
“ According to your desire I give you the following remarks 
upon the natural affinity of the curious animal Hypocephalus, which 
* A specimen (which is, I believe, the only one in Paris) has recently been purchased for 
the Museum d’Hist. Nat., at the price of 700 francs. 
-h I employ the English length measure, i.e. 12 lines to the inch. My specimen is, there¬ 
fore, 3 inches and £ a line long. It is shorter in my figure by 2 lines, but allowance must be 
made for the curve of the body. 
X An inch is equal to 25 French millemetres. 
