CHAP. XXXVIII.] NATURAL HISTORY. 245 



I made excursions in various directions with my friend Mr. 

 GifFord, to examine the coal mines north and south of Black- 

 heath, near Richmond, and have already given the results of our 

 observations in the first volume.^ I afterward made an expedi 

 tion with Dr. Wyman, now Professor of Comparative Anatomy 

 at Cambridge, Massachussetts, to examine the geology of the 

 tertiary strata round Richmond, and those (of the Eocene period) 

 displayed in the cliffs bordering the Potomac River, near Acquia. 

 Creek. In one of our walks we saw some dogs feeding on part 

 of the carcass of a horse, and a group of turkey-buzzards eagerly 

 looking on close at hand, but not daring to share in the repast. 

 Near the same spot were the skulls of two dogs lying bleached 

 in the sun, and in the hollow of each we found the nest of a 

 large species of wasp, somewhat resembling our hornet, contain 

 ing a good store of honey. On the surface of some pools of 

 water I saw floating the singular seed-vessel of the nuphar, or 

 yellow pond lily (Nelumbiuni). These seeds have been known 

 to vegetate after they have been kept for a hundred years. 



In passing through a wood near Acquia Creek, on a hot day, 

 we came upon a large snake, about four feet long, resembling 

 that called the mocassin, which lifted itself up, folding its body 

 into several graceful coils, and then darted its head and neck 

 forward at a dog which had followed us from the inn. The dog 

 dexterously retreated as often -as a blow was aimed at him, bark 

 ing loudly, and enjoying the rnock fight. The extremity of the 

 snake s tail, although not armed with a rattle, was in a state of 

 constant vibration. 



On a soft sandy road we saw a great many of the ball-rolling 

 beetles (Ateuchus volvens), which resemble in form the Scarabceus 

 sacer of Egypt. They were all busily engaged in pushing along 

 round balls of dung, in the center of some of which we found an 

 egg, and in others a maggot. A pair of beetles was occupied 

 with each globular mass, which considerably exceeded themselves 

 in size. One of them went before, and usually climbed up the 

 side of the ball till the weight of its body made the mass fall 

 over, the other pushing behind, so as to urge it forward, or at 

 * Vol. i. p. 211. 



