YHE CAPRICORN BEETLES. 2$$ 



gnawing away the sides, so as to make them very 

 round and smooth j for this not only allows him suf-* 

 ficient air, and a place through which he can expel 

 the particles of his dung, but it is also the passage 

 through which, when he is full fed, and ready to un- 

 dergo his change, he makes his way out. About the 

 month of September, or perhaps somewhat later, 

 the nut becomes ripe and falls to the ground. At 

 this time he is generally prepared for the change,, 

 and works himself through the hole, which he is 

 some time in doing, as it is much less in circum- 

 ference than his body. He then buries himself in 

 the earth, and, shortly after, changes into a chrysa- 

 lis, in which state he remains till the following- 

 spring, and about the beginning of May assumes 

 his beetle form. 



In this state the insect is about a quarter of an 

 inch in length, and of a grey-brown colour. The 

 body is somewhat of an oval shape, having the pos« 

 terior extremity not rounded off, but ending in a 

 point. The beak, or rostrum, is red ; and as long as 

 the bodv. 



THE CAPRICORN BEETLES. 



THE insects of the present tribe are among the 

 most beautiful that are produced, Their antennae 

 are frequently longer than the body. Many 01 the 

 species diffuse a strong, but .seldom an unpleasant 



3 



