486 NATURAL HISTORY. 



wearied are they, that if several Burying-beetles are placed in 

 a vessel filled with earth, and kept constantly supplied with 

 dead frogs, mice, &c., they will continue to bury them as long 

 as the supply is kept up. The object of this remarkable in- 

 stinct, so beneficial in its effects, is to furnish food for the young 

 who are hatched from eggs laid in the body of the animal dur- 

 ing its burial. In this way innumerable carcasses which would 

 pollute the atmosphere are removed, and made beneficial to 

 the soil. 



Family, Lucamdse. (Lat. Lucanus, the Stag-beetle.) 



I/UNCANUS. 

 Family, Geotrupidre. (Gr. !>/, the Earth ; rpv^uu, to bore.) 



GEOTRUPES. 



Family, Melolontlrfcte. (Gr. MjyAoAwfljy, a Coekchaffer.) 



MELOLONTHA. 



Cervus (Lat a Stag), the Stag-beetle. 

 Stercorarius (Lat. Dung), the Dor-beetle. 

 Vulgaris (Lat. common), the Cockcliaffer. 



The LAMELLICORN BEETLES are exceeedingly useful to man- 

 kind. Many of them act as scavengers and farmers, for they 



