146 HISTORY OF 



whom there always are, in the royal chamber and 

 the galleries adjacent, a sufficient number in wait- 

 ing), and carried to the nurseries, which are some- 

 times four or five feet distant in a straight line. 

 Here, after they are hatched, the young are at- 

 tended and provided with every thing necessary, 

 until they are able to shift for themselves, and take 

 their share of the labours of the community.'* 



Many curious and striking particulars are re- 

 lated of the great devastations committed by this 

 powerful community, which construct roads, or 

 rather covered ways, diverging in all directions 

 from the nest, and leading to every object of 

 plunder within their reach.] 



CHAPTER VI. 



OF THE BEETLE, AND ITS VARIETIES. 



HITHERTO we have been treating of insects with 

 four transparent wings, we now come to a tribe 

 with two transparent wings, with cases that cover 

 them close while at rest, but which allow them 

 their proper play when flying. The principal of 

 these are the Beetle, the May-Bug, and the Can- 

 tharis. These are all bred, like the rest of their 

 order, first from eggs, then they become grubs, 

 then a chrysalis in which the parts of the future 

 fly are distinctly seen, and lastly the animal leaves 

 its prison, breaking forth as a winged animal in 

 full maturity. 



