PILL-BEETLES. 123 



resembling exactly those of a bull, from whence its name of 

 Onthophagus Taurus. 



This and others of its family, as chiefly vernal insects, have 

 been designated as " agreeable/' despite of their unpleasing 

 habits. 



There is another set of little leaping beetles, called 

 Histerida also spring visitants whose exterior is really 

 much more prepossessing than their resorts and practices would 

 lead one to expect. Some of these present us with exceeding 

 pretty specimens of nature's sculpture ; and, from their habit 

 of contracting the legs and antennse immediately upon being 

 alarmed or touched, resemble, when thus indrawn, a carved 

 seed (usually black, or black and red) rather than a carved 

 insect. Hence derived are their familiar names of " Pill ' 

 and " Horse-bean beetles/'* 



Of these, some are workers in the same unsavoury sub- 

 stances as the dor or clock ; but a peculiar office usually allotted 

 to this tribe is to commence the destruction of dead carcases by 

 piercing through their skins, on which the Ulster is a feeder, 

 thus making a way for its fellow-labourers in the work of 

 clearance. 



Flies are usually the next agents of consumption, followed 

 by a host of other beetles, of which the rearward force is com- 

 posed of such as exhibit a peculiar penchant for dry bones. 



Amongst the latter are those called Dermestida, accustomed, 



* Histeridae. 



