THE COCKCHAFER 103 



The Dor, or Watchman Beetle (Geotrupes 

 stercorarius), Plate VIII., Fig. 6, discharges 

 a similar duty in removing dung. It is 

 commonly seen on roads, or paths, and is 

 black above, with grooved elytra, and purplish 

 beneath. A small reddish mite often infests 

 its lower surface, though how it pierces the 

 hard armour of its host is difficult to under- 

 stand. The Dor-beetle is a near relative of 

 the scarabaeus, which the ancient Egyptians 

 held in great reverence, and their degenerate 

 descendants are said to eat. 



The Common Cockchafer (Melolontha 

 vulgaris), Plate VIII., Fig. 7 (which must not 

 be confused with the cockroach), has a 

 brownish-black head and thorax, clothed with 

 fine white hairs, and wing-cases brownish- 

 yellow. It dwells in trees, where it some- 

 times does great damage to the foliage. 

 When a chafer falls upon its back, the shape 

 of its body causes it to experience much 

 difficulty in righting itself. In Sweden they 

 say that he who helps one of these insects 

 to regain its feet, will have his sins forgiven. 

 By this saying the Swedes remind them- 

 selves that to return good for evil, and to 



