134 CLASS-BOOK OF ZOOLOGY. 



and others not larger than a flea. They are mostly, how- 

 ever, of a brown or black color. 



§ 545. They are generally found in the neighborhood 

 of putrid matter, in dunghills, carrion, mushrooms, and 

 under stones and the bark of trees. They feed only on 

 putrid matter, and thus, like the Turkey-buzzard, aid in 

 purifying the atmosphere. 



5 546. The Snapping-beetle, or Skipper, (Elater,) is re- 

 markable for the singular dexterity with which, when 

 lying on its back, it throws itself into the air, and falls on 

 its feet, which are too short for raising itself up. This 

 is effected by a long process attached to the front of the 

 thorax or chest, which, moving in a groove along the body, 

 is forcibly protruded in making a dart upwards. 



§ 547. There is a great number of species, differing in 

 size and color. They are found in fields, meadows, and 

 upon trees and shrubs. They fall on the ground, and 

 pretend to be dead, on being approached. 



§ 548. Those of America are the largest. Some spe- 

 cies of the tropics are phosphoric, and known under the 

 name of Lightning-bugs, (Cucujo.) 



§ 549. The Fire-fly (Lampyris) has an elongated, flat 

 body, soft wing-covers, and phosphoric rings at the ex- 

 tremity of the body. These rings enable Fire-flies to 

 shine, and to find one another during the night, when 

 flying in fields and meadows. 



§ 550. The Carriovrbeetle (Necrophorus) has its name 

 from the dexterity with which it scents, from a distance, 

 the bodies of small animals, as moles and frogs, which it 

 buries with its own eggs under the ground, as food for 

 its future progeny. Six of them will bury a mole a foot 

 deep in less than four hours. 



§551. The large Carrion-beetle of this country is about 

 one inch long, of a black color, intermixed with red. In 

 two weeks, from its eggs, which are white and of a cylin- 

 drical form, proceed larva?, that in four weeks grow to 

 be an inch and a half long, when they are converted 

 under-ground into a chrysalis, in which condition they 

 remain three weeks. 



6 552. The Cock-chafer, or May-chafer, (Melolontha,) 



