The Gymnopleuri 



represented In France by two species. One, 

 with smooth wing-cases (G. pilularius, Fab.), 

 is fairly common everywhere; the other (G. 

 flagellatus, Fab.), stippled on the top with 

 httle holes, as though the insect had been 

 pitted with small-pox, is rarer and prefers 

 the south. Both species abound in the 

 pebbly plains of my neighbourhood, where 

 the Sheep pass amid the lavender and thyme. 

 Their shape is not unlike that of the Sacred 

 Beetle; but they are much smaller. For the 

 rest, they have the same habits, the same 

 fields of operation, the same nesting-period: 

 May and June, down to July. 



Applying themselves to similar labours, 

 Gymnopleuri and Scarabs are brought into 

 each other's society rather by the force of 

 things than by the love of company. I not 

 infrequently see them settling next door to 

 each other; I even oftener find them seated 

 at the same heap. In bright sunshine the 

 banqueters are sometimes very numerous. 

 The Gymnopleuri predominate largely. 



One would be inclined to think that these 

 insects, endowed with powers of nimble and 

 sustained flight, explore the country in 

 swarm and that, when they find rich plunder, 

 they all swoop down upon it at once. Though 

 the sight of so large a crowd might seem 

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