148 NATURAL HISTORY. 
The whole is a burnifhed green, and tinged with red, 
fo as to refemble the finmeft polifhed copper. The 
elytra are adorned with a few tranfverfal {pots, which 
add to the other embeilifhments of its brilliant col- 
ouring. Such is its amazing {plendor, that it rivals 
the emerald, and is, therefore, admired as the moft 
beautiful infeét produced in England. 
We avoid defcribing the cockchafer, which, being 
fo well known, only requires us juft to mention, that 
all its varieties depend on its mode of life; and its 
colours, on its fex, age, health, ficknefs, &c. 
ACH DENG DG Hee 
GENUS IT. 
LUCANUS.——STAG BEETLE.-; *, 
F " : Sige 
Vur ftag beetle is the largeft, and moft fingular in 
its fhape, ot any. in,this. country. . Itis known by two; 
maxilla, projecting from its head, and refembling the 
horns of a ftag. Yhefe maxille are furnifhed with 
teeth, from their root to their point. The elytra 
have neither ftreaks or fpots. The whole infeét is of 
a deep brown. It is fometinies found in oaks, near 
London, where it is much imaller than thofe of the 
fame {pecies found in woody countries. As their 
horns pinch feverely, they are carefully to be avoid- 
ed. Lhe greateft-beauty they poifefs is their max- 
ill, or jaws, fometimes.appearing like coral. * 
The lucani feed on the oozings from oaks, where 
the females depofit theireggs. The larve, or grubs,” 
lodge under the back, or in the hollow of old trees ; 
which they bite,, and. reduce to fine powder. Here» 
they transform themfelves into chryfalids, ~. - +.we8 
