THE PILL CHAFER. 247 



before they attempt to roll them. In their moving 

 of them from place to place, both they and the balls 

 may frequently be seen tumbling about over the lit- 

 tle eminences that are in their way. They are not, 

 however, easily discouraged j and, by repeating their 

 attempts, usually surmount the difficulties." 



Catesby says also that " they find out their sub- 

 sistence by the excellency of their fioses," which 

 direct them in their flight to newly fallen dung, on 

 which they immediately go to work, tempering it 

 with a proper mixture of earth. So intent are they 

 always upon their employment that, though hand- 

 led or otherwise interrupted, they are not to be de- 

 terred, but immediately, on being freed, persist in 

 their work without any apprehension of danger*. 



They are said to be so exceedingly strong and 

 active as to move about, with the greatest ease, 

 things that are many times their own weight. Dr. 

 Brickell was supping one evening in a planter's 

 house of North Carolina, when two of them were 

 conveyed, without his knowledge, under the candle- 

 sticks. A few blows were struck on the table, 

 and to his great surprise the candlesticks began to 

 move about, apparently without any agency ; and 

 his surprise was not much lessened when, on taking 

 one of them up, he discovered that it was only a 

 chafer that moved f. 



Professor Thunberg and Mr. Browne both men- 

 tion the operations of a species of chafer in the dif- 



Catesby, Appendix, 11. t Brickell 161, 



