ORDER I. BEETLES. 37 



many years, and transported thousands of miles without in- 

 jury. I have been thus particular in these details because 

 I am often asked how to catch and preserve these insects. 



Another species of Dung Beetle, very beneficial in the 

 same way, and well known to every child, is the funny 

 Tumble-bug, or Pellet Beetle {Ateuchus volvens), wliich is 

 found in all the States of the Union, and in fact similar 

 ones are found in all parts of the world. Pliny, speaking 

 of that species which is found in Italy, says : "Aliud scara- 

 hceorum genus, qui e fimo ingentes pilos aversis 2')edihus volutant, 

 parvosque in iis contra rigorem hiemis vermiculos foetus sui ni- 

 dulantury 



The Pellet Beetle of North America is half an inch long, 

 of a black, and some of them of a changeable green or pur- 

 ple color, exhaling a fetid odor, slightly resembling that of 

 musk. These Beetles are complete models of industry and 

 parental care, for they are continually occupied in making 

 small balls of fresh manure, about the size of a common 

 marble, which they mix with earth, and into which they 

 deposit an egg. As soon as the ball is dry they roll it and 

 roll it, until they find a convenient place for making a hole 

 two or three feet deep, into which they roll it, and then 

 bury up their offspring, the precious object of so much 

 care. 



The ancient Egyptians were so convinced of the benefit 

 derived from these insects, that they considered Pellet Bee- 

 tles as sacred, and usually represented them in their tem- 

 ples, obelisks, and statues. They are also found even in 

 their mummeries. The Ateuchus sacer of the Egyptians, 

 however, although of the same character and habits as our 

 Pellet Beetle, is twice as large, and is also black. It is 

 found not only in Egypt ; I saw it also in France, Italy, 

 the Crimea, and along the Caucasus. 



We come now to a species of insects which are in rather 

 bad repute among farmers, because they feed on decayed 



