LIGHTNING-BUGS. 49 



cially the grave-diggers (Necrophorus), appear. They run 

 about the body, if upon the ground, inspecting it with great 

 interest. If the animal is small, and the earth about it not 

 suitable for its purpose, it is removed to softer ground ; and 

 here the beetles begin to dig, undermining the body, until 

 in a very few hours it has disappeared or been completely 

 buried. I have seen a garter snake covered in four hours, 

 and some animals are sunk in this way a foot from the sur- 

 face. The beetles then feed upon the body, and the female 

 deposits her eggs there, perhaps thirty white cylindrical 

 objects, which in time hatch ; the young being in this way 

 provided with an ample supply of food. 



The Egyptian Scarabceus, noted for being found in the 

 ancient tombs and monuments, and considered sacred by some 

 of the natives, has an interesting method of caring for its 

 future young. It encloses the eggs in round balls of various 

 material suitable for food ; a well is then dug several inches 

 deep, into whicli the beetles roll the balls, then covering 

 them: so that, when the young appears, it is encased in the 

 food necessary to its existence. 



Passing the giant beetles of the tropics, and many others 

 that have features of interest, we come to the forms called 

 lightning-bugs, which, of all their tribe, impress us as mar- 

 vellous, and which are especially associated with our present 

 subject. 



" Sorrowing we beheld 



The night come on ; but soon did night display 

 More wonders than it veiled : innumerous tribes 

 From the wood-cover swarmed, and darkness made 

 Their beauties visible ; one while they streamed 

 A bright blue radiance upon flowers which closed 

 Their gorgeous colors from the eye of day ; 



