JUNE. 147 



and commence scratching away the earth till they have made 

 a pit, into which the animal gradually sinks ; when it has 

 reached a sufficient depth, the earth is thrown over it, and 

 the young larvae, when hatched, find themselves in the midst 

 of a repast, disgusting enough, but most happily suited to 

 their taste ; for the ground is thus freed from putrid sub- 

 stances, which would otherwise affect the purity of the at- 

 mosphere. 



COLEOPTERA. GeOTRUPID^. 



GEOTEUPES. 



Generic Distinctions. — Antenna with a club divided into 

 laminae ; mandibles standing out from the head, and notched ; 

 thorax very convex, and as broad as the elytra, which are short 

 and oval. 



Geotrupes stercorarius is entirely black above, tinted 

 with violet ; the thorax is without punctures on the disc, 

 but has a few at the sides, and a short line in the middle ; 

 the elytra are marked with deep grooves, the spaces between 

 being smooth and convex ; the under side and legs are steel 

 blue, beautifully glossed with purple or green. 



It is to this insect that Shakspeare alludes under the name 

 of the "shard-born Beetle," both in 'Macbeth' and 'Cym- 



