ROSE-BEETLE. 251 



with slimy matter calculated to collect extraneous 

 things, and reptiles, are perfectly free from soil. The 

 fur and hair of beasts, in a state of liberty and health, 

 is never filthy, or sullied with dirt. Some birds 

 roll themselves in dust, and, occasionally, particular 

 beasts cover themselves with mire; but this is not 

 from any liking or inclination for such things, but 

 to free themselves from annoyances, or to pre- 

 vent the bites of insects. Whether birds in preening, 

 and beasts in dressing themselves, be directed by 

 any instinctive faculty, we know not 5 but they evi- 

 dently derive pleasure from the operation, and thus 

 this feehng of enjoyment," even if the sole motive, 

 becomes to them an essential source of comfort and 

 of health."* 



The rose or green chafer ( Cetonia aurata)^ which is 

 one of our prettiest native insects, is one of the bur- 

 rowers, and for the purpose of depositing her eggs, 

 digs, about the middle of June, into soft light 

 ground. When she is seen at this operation, with 

 her broad and delicate wings folded up in their shining 

 green cases, speckled with white, it could hardly be 

 imagined that she had but just descended from the 

 air, or dropped down from some neighbouring rose. 



The proceedings of the Tumble-Dung Beetle of 

 America [Scarcibceus lyihdarius, Linn.) are de- 

 scribed in a very interesting manner by Catesby, 

 in his ' Carolina.' '' I have," says he, " attentively 

 admired their industry, and mutual assisting of 

 each other in rolhng their globular balls from the 

 place where they made them to that of their in- 

 terment, which is usually the distance of some 

 yards, more or less. This they perform breech fore- 

 most, by raising their hind parts, and forcing along 



* Journal of a Naturalist, p. 311. 



