146 NATURAL HISTORY. [cH. IX. 



they are constrained to leave off; but they continue 

 to work by rolling the next ball that comes in their 

 way. None of them appear to know their own ball, 

 but an equal care for the whole appears to affect 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 

 removing them from place to place, the balls may 

 be seen tumbling about over the little eminences 

 that are in their way; they are not, however, easily 

 discouraged, and repeated attempts usually surmount 

 the difficulties. This object is effected, because in 

 the middle of each of these pellets is buried an egg, 

 the larva of which, when awakened into life, finds 

 its food already prepared for its use : after having 

 devoured the parent's supply, it seeks the surface , 

 and after the usual time, it forms its pellet of moist 

 dung, coated outside with clay, which gives them 

 the appearance of round stones. Their roundness 

 has caused much surprise to entomologists, as re- 

 gards the manner in which it is formed ; some sup- 

 posing that, having proceeded so far as to allow of 

 its entering, the larva lays in a supply of clay and 

 dung, then fixes itself, and plasters first the outward 

 coat, and then the inward, with the dung. It silently 

 changes into a chrysalis, and after a short time it 

 appears in the perfect insect, when it is of a deep 

 shining black colour, about three quarters of an inch 

 in length. 



The strength of these insects is very great, which 

 is often shown by the planters in America placing 

 one under each candlestick, where they will remain 

 quiet until the table is struck ; the insect being thus 

 disturbed, will begin to move the candlesticks about 

 of its own accord, though in an awkward manner, 

 to the great delight of the visiters. 



Several of this tribe were emblems of the Eg)*p- 

 tians, and accordingly are to be met with abundantly 

 in their hieroglyphics, symbolical of the world, the 



