SACKED EGYPTIAN SCARAB^US. Scarabceut scuzr. 



ATLAS BEETLE. CAaZcosdi.ta atlai. 



extraordinary powers of scent, are sure to bfc on the spot as soon as their labours are 

 required. 



There are few parts of the globe where beetles possessing similar habits are not to be 

 found, and although they do not display equal skill in the construction of egg-containing 

 balls, they are equally efficacious in the results. It may be here mentioned that the 

 watchman beetle of England (Geotrupes stercorctrius) is the "shard-borne" beetle men- 

 tioned by the poets, the title being due to the shelly elytra which are held aloft during its 

 flight. They are marvellously tenacious of life ; and as an example of this property I 

 may mention that I once caught a Geotrupes in the air which had been mulcted of one 

 elytron, lost several of its limbs, and the whole of its abdomen, the contents having been 

 evidently scooped out by some bird. Yet it was quite strong on the wing, and seemed 

 little the worse for its injuries. 



THE right-hand figure in the illustration represents a very fine Lamellicorn, the ATLAS 

 BEETLE, a native of the Philippines and part of India. The form of this insect can be 

 seen from the drawing, and its colours are as follows : The male is of a brilliant metallic 

 olive green, brightly polished and shining ; but the female is of a much duller hue, having 

 the thorax and the base of the elytra rough, and the green of a blackish cast. The length 

 of the male is about three inches. 



The very odd looking beetle on the left hand of the illustration belongs to the family 

 Eutelidse, the members of which belong entirely to the hot countries of the globe, and are 

 most plentiful in the tropics. They do not seem to attain the gigantic dimensions which 

 are found among the allied families, such as the Dynastida3, but are all very beautiful 

 insects on account of the extreme brilliancy of their colouring. The CHEYSOPHORA has 

 been chosen as the example of this family, on account of its curious form and glowing 

 colours. The specimen is a male, and is given to show the extraordinary development of 

 the hind legs, which seem disproportionately long and stout when compared with the 

 moderately sized body. Another point of interest in this beetle is the structure of the. 

 "tfbia" of the hind leg, i.e. the joint immediately preceding the jointed foot. On 

 reference to the engraving, it will be seen that the lower part of this joint is prolonged 



