THE SACRED SCARAB^US. 



223 



when walking, as its legs are set far apart; but it is this 

 peculiar structure which enables it to roll along a ball 

 of dung from an inch and a half to two inches in diameter, 

 which it does standing almost on its head, and pushing the 

 ball with its hind legs, much as a horse backs a cart. The 

 earth being usually hard and stony in the countries where 

 the Scarabaeus chiefly dwells, 

 it has to search for a soft spot 

 in which to bury the ball, which 

 is exactly proportioned in size 

 to the number of larvae it will 

 have to feed. The labour of 

 rolling it is great, for it is never 

 quite round ; but the persever- 

 ing beetle toils on with won- 

 derful determination, though 

 obliged now and then to stop 

 and rest before it can continue 

 its exertions. Tired or not, 



however, nothing will induce it to give up the precious 

 ball in which it has laid its eggs, though it will be equally 

 well satisfied with the ball of a neighbour, and shows no 

 other mark of attachment to its offspring, which when once 

 buried with their supply of food, are left to care for them- 

 selves, as they are well able to do. 



Black is the usual colour of the various species of 

 Scarabaeus, but some are resplendent with the richest 

 metallic colours. Some of the species add carrion to their 

 other diet, and feed on dead fishes, besides acting the part 

 of sexton to dead snakes, which they speedily bury. 



Fig. 46. THE SACRED SCARA- 

 B/EUS. 



