THE SPOTTED SCARAB J] US. 



879 



hind legs directing the ball, while the four other legs are employed in locomotion. During 

 this operation the beetle seems to be standing on its head, the hind legs being necessarily 

 much elevated in order to guide the ball, which by dint of much rolling becomes nearly 

 spherical. A tolerably deep hole is then excavated in a statable spot, the ball rolled into it, 

 and the earth filled in. 



Many beetles perform this useful operation ; and even in several European countries where 

 the beauty of the climate is only equalled by the uncleanliness of the inhabitants, these beetles 

 are of inestimable service, and are, perhaps, the only means whereby the towns and villages are 

 rendered endurable, at all events to unaccustomed eyes and nostrils. Fortunately these insects 

 fly by day as well as by night, and being gifted with extraordinary powers of scent, are sure 

 to be on the spot as soon as their labors are required. 



There are few parts of the globe where beetles possessing similar habits are not to be 

 found, and although they do not display equal skill in the construction of egg-containing 



SPOTTED SCARABJ5US.— Ateuchus varwloms. (In natural size, surrounded by Scarabees in diminished form.) 



balls, they are equally efficacious in the results. It may be here mentioned, that the watch- 

 man beetle (Geotriipes stercordrius) is the "shard-borne" beetle mentioned by the poets, the 

 title being due to the shelly elytra which are held aloft during its flight. They are marvel- 

 lously tenacious of life ; and, as an example of this property, I may mention that I once 

 caught a Geotrupes in the air which had been mulcted of one elytron, lost several of its limbs, 

 and the whole of its abdomen, the contents having been evidently scooped out by some bird. 

 Yet it was quite strong on the wing, and seemed little the worse for its injuries. This beetle 

 is represented in the full-page illustration on page 376. 



Several species of this kind of beetle, called Dung-beetles, or Tumble-bug, are found in 

 the northern United States. The Bronze Dung-beetle (Oopris carnifex) is the most attractive 

 of these scavengers. It is a more southern species than the Common Dung-beetle, or Pellet 

 Beetle {Ateuchus volvens), which, however, is found in all the States. The latter is closely 

 related to the Sacred Scarabseus, which, by some authorities, is of the same genus as the 

 Spotted Scarab^eus {Ateuchus variolosus). The ancient Egyptians, being so impressed by 

 what they regarded as a benefit conferred by these scavengers, they looked up and treated 

 their beetle as sacred, too, representing them, as we see above, in sculpture of their tombs, 

 houses, temples, etc. The latter species is found in the south of France. 



