316 THE MODERN SCAEAB^US. 



types of the world, and, the beetles being supposed to push 

 them always from east to west, for twenty-eight successive 

 days, their movement was made also to represent that of the 

 habitable globe. To carry out this symbolic scheme, the 

 Scarabaeus (reckoning five joints to each of its six feet) was 

 said to have thirty fingers, corresponding with the number of 

 days in each sign of the zodiac ; while, to complete the 

 analogy, the six notches or angular projections of the insect's 

 head were likened to the rays of the sun. 1 



The Scarabaeus was never, that we know of, made in Eng- 

 land a recipient exactly of divine honours ; yet would it appear 

 that this, or a beetle of similar habits, held no mean place in 

 the estimation of one at least among our ancestors, and in times 

 comparatively recent. Mouffet, one of the fathers of ento- 

 mology, is loud in praise of its virtues, which (according to 

 him) should serve as a stimulant to every good quality, 

 should invite to labour, temperance, prudence, justice, modesty, 

 and should teach man contentment, by showing him how a 

 beetle can luxuriate in a bed of dung, just as well as in a bed 

 of roses. How justice should have a place in this catalogue of 

 virtues to be learnt from beetle practice, puzzles us, we confess, 

 to discover ; nor may it be worth the trouble of inquiry. Per- 

 haps it would better suit our purpose to see whether this once 

 worshipped and lauded Scarabasus has sunk, in these modern 

 times, into utter disregard ; or whether amongst those who, 

 perhaps, know him not by name, there may not be found a 

 considerable number who, inasmuch as they follow his ways, 

 may be said still to worship his image. 



Where, at all events, shall we find a better emblem, if not a 

 better god, for the busy of the money-making, money-loving 

 world, living immersed in filthy lucre, than the dung-abiding 

 beetle ? Like it, are they not for ever toiling, from rise to set 

 of sun, to amass and roll together their corrupt riches ? And 



1 Latreille, " Annales du Museum," 1819. "Des Insectes peintes ousculptes 

 sur les Monumens de PEgypte." 



