BEETLES. 63 



lately received from my esteemed friend, David Smith, 

 M. D., of Providence, from whose Entomological re- 

 searches I have obtained many interesting facts, and 

 to whose kindness I am indebted for the free use of 

 his valuable library. 



This Insect is represented by the late Thomas Say, 

 in his American Entomology, Plate 51, without, how- 

 ever, making any mention of its habits, use, or injury. 



The Fungus Eater is about half an inch long, and is. 

 remarkable for its singular form. Its head has two 

 little horns upon its margin, which are curved back- 

 wards and inwards, resembling that of a Babyrussa. 

 Its thorax has two larger horns, which are curved and 

 directed forward, looking like a bull's head, and its 

 wing-covers are surmounted by so many tubercles that 

 their whole appearance is like that of a Turkish country- 

 metschet or mosque, covered with a number of small 

 minarets or spires. 



The body of this animal is of a dark ash-colour and 

 hairy, and it lives principally in fungi and in decayed 

 wood. 



Another, and a very important class of Insects, 

 belonging to this family, are the Carrion Beetles, which 

 feed on dead or dried animal bodies, of the higher as 

 well as the lower classes. They eat the flesh, fat, skin 

 and intestines of dead beasts, birds, fishes, and the in- 

 ternal parts of preserved insects. Hence we see very 



