NATURALISTS CABINET. 



Tumble-dung beetle or pill-chafer. 



the size of a walnut, somewhere near the surface, 

 within which it changes into a chrysalis. In 

 this state it remains till the beginning of May, 

 when it bursts out a perfect chafer. This is at 

 first of a light green colour, and very tender; 

 but it soon acquires its proper hardness and 

 strength. 



Rose-chafers are called by some, the kings of 

 the beetles,: they are, however, as busy and active* 

 as any others of the tribe, and are generally in 

 company, and employed with 



The tumble-dung beetle or pill-chafer, is some- 

 what more than an inch in length, and of a 

 dusky black colour, sometimes with a greenish 

 hue above, and underneath of a very brilliant 

 blue or green. The wing cases and thorax are 

 very smooth; the former marked with several 

 longitudinal streaks, and the latter round, and 

 margined, having a slight groove in the middle. 



This insect is found both in Europe and Ame- 

 rica, and in its manners is one of the most re- 

 markable of the beetle tribe. It comes forth in 

 April, and is to be seen till about September, 

 when it disappears. Its almost constant employ- 

 ment, in which indeed it is indefatigable, is in 

 the different operations necessary to continue its 

 species. It provides a proper nidus for its eggs 

 by forming round pellets of dung, in the middle 

 of each of which it deposits an egg. These, in 

 September, the insects convey to the depth of 

 about three feet into the ground. Here they re- 



