COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 197 



ground, is sometimes deserted by them. It is, 

 however, attempted by others with success, unless 

 it happens to roll into some deep hollow or chink, 

 where they are constrained to leave it ; but they 

 continue their work by rolling off the next ball in 

 their way. None of them seem to know their own 

 balls, but an equal care for the whole appears to 

 affect all the community. They form these pellets 

 while the dung remains moist, and leave them to 

 harden in the sun before they attempt to roll them. 

 In their moving of them from place to place, both 

 they and the balls may frequently be seen tumbling 

 about over the little eminences that are in their 

 way. They are not, however, easily discouraged ; 

 and, by repeating their attempts, usually surmount 

 the difficulties. 



" They find out their subsistence by the excel- 

 lency of their noses, which direct them in their 

 flight to newly fallen dung, on which they imme- 

 diately go to work, tempering it with a proper mix- 

 ture of earth. So intent are they always on their 

 employment, that, though handled or otherwise in- 

 terrupted, they are not to be deterred, but imme- 

 diately on being freed, persist in their work with- 

 out any apprehension of danger. They are said to be 

 so exceedingly strong and active as to move about, 

 with the greatest ease, things that are many times 

 th^ir own weight. Dr Birchell was supping one 

 evening in a planter's house of North Carolina, 

 when two of them were conveyed, without his 



