350 AFFECTION OP INSECTS FOR THEIR YOUNG. 



a mass of the dung- to the bottom, in it deposits its eggs. 

 And many of the species of the genus Atcuchus roll to- 

 gether wet dung into round pellets, deposit an e^^ in 

 the midst of each, and when dry push them backwards 

 by their hind feet to holes of the surprising depth of 

 three feet, which they have preriously dug for their 

 reception, and which are often several yards distant. 

 Frequently the road lies across a depression in the sur- 

 face, and the pellet when nearly pushed to the summit 

 rolls back again. But our patient Sisyphi are not easily 

 discouraged. They repeat their efforts again and again, 

 and in the end their perseverance is rewarded by suc- 

 cess. The attention of these insects to their eggs is so 

 remarkable, that it was observed in the earliest ages, 

 and is mentioned by ancient writers, but with the addi- 

 tion of many fables, as that they were all of the male 

 sex, that they became young again every year, that 

 they rolled the pellets containing their eggs from sun- 

 rise to sun-set every day, for twenty-eight days without 

 intermission^, &c. It is one of this tribe of beetles 

 {A. sacer) whose image is so often met with amongst 

 the hieroglyphics of the Egyptians, with whom it was a 

 symbol of the world, of the sun, and of a courageous 

 warrior. Of the world, as P. Valerianus supposes, 

 on account of the orbicular form of its pellets of dung, 

 and the notion of their being rolled from sun-rise to 

 sun-set; of the sun, because of the angular projec- 

 tions from its head resembling rays, and the thirty 

 joints of the six tarsi of its feet answering to the days 

 of the month ; and of a warrior, from the idea of manly 

 courage being connected with its supposed birth from 



» Mouffet, 153. 



