FACTS ABOUT INSECTS. lip 



course, horizontally. May-bugs, pinch-bugs, and po- 

 tato-bugs, are not bugs, but are beetles. 



One of the most interesting of this order of insects 

 is the tumble-bug, which was held sacred by the Egyp- 

 tians, and whose figure is inscribed on their monu- 

 ments. Our tumble-bugs are nearly like it. The ball 

 they roll, often up hill, one pulling and the other 



Egyptian Tumble-bugs. 



pushing, contains an egg. The little globe is composed 

 of the droppings of horses and cattle; and this ma- 

 terial seems to be selected because it will become heat- 

 ed, and thus help the egg to hatch. A hole is sunken 

 in the ground to receive the ball, and to this nest the 

 struggling little heroes are trying to move their rolling 

 treasure. 



The insect races are more numerous than the tribes 

 or species of other animals. The number of different 

 kinds of beetles, alone, which have been examined, is 

 about a hundred thousand. 



