28o TRAh^SFORMATIONS OF INSECTS. 



whole proceeding, and it desires to place its eggs in a safe place. 

 One of the females lays an &^^, but instead of being satisfied 

 with allowing it to remain, like other Coprophagi, in the midst of a 

 mass of manure, or in a hole in a dung-heap, it rolls it up in a 

 little mass of refuse in the shape of a pill. The beetle rolls 

 the mass about over the soil with its hind legs, and soon makes 

 it into a round ball. The ball is not left to shift for itself, for 

 the insect is most particular about the place where it is to be 

 put by ; it seeks a position in which the future larva can live 

 comfortably and safely, and, in consequence, often has to carry 

 and push the burden for considerable distances. The beetle takes 

 its time, perseveres, and after using much ingenuity, usually suc- 

 ceeds in its endeavours. Should the surface of the soil be very 

 irregular, the beetle places the bundle on its head, the flat shape 

 and tubercles of which are admirably fitted to receive and hold 

 the weight, and carries it over everything until easier ground 

 is reached. Sometimes an impediment is so great that this 

 manoeuvre is of no use, and the beetle drops the ball, and appa- 

 rently gives up the labour in disgust at the unexpected diffi- 

 culty ; but this is not really so. The AtciicJuis flies ofi", and 

 soon returns with several others ; and it is said that patience will 

 always reward observers with a wonderful sight. The beetles 

 set to work, and push and pull this way and that, and crawl over 

 all sorts of places, mutually assisting each other. When several 

 of them are thus seen rolling a ball, it is a suggestive sight, 

 and very incomprehensible to those who are ignorant of natural 

 history. 



As soon as the Ateiichns has rolled the ball to the place 

 where it wishes, the insect begins to dig a hole, and in this it is 

 assisted by its front legs, the large spines of which enable them 

 to dig rapidly and easily. The tarsus is deficient, for it would 

 have been in the way when the legs were digging into hard soil. 

 Having such capital tools, the insect excavates the hole rapidly, 

 and when it is sufficiently spacious and deep, the ball is rolled 

 down to the bottom ; then the beetle uses its long hind legs, 

 which arc furnished with a sort of brush, to fill in the cavity 

 and smooth the earth over it. 



Many amulets and Egyptian pictures represent an Atcuclnis, 



