176 HOMES WITHOUT HANDS. 



insect which is found in many parts of the globe, and very much 

 resembles the Dor beetle of our own country. This insect sets to 

 work in a curiously systematic manner. 



As soon as the sensitive organs of the Scarabseus announce to 

 it that the desired substance is at hand, it proceeds to the spot, 

 alights, and sets at once to work. First, it sinks a tolerably deep 

 and perpendicular hole in the ground, and, having returned to the 

 cow-dung, it separates a sufficient quantity for its purpose, lays an 

 egg in it, and forms it into a rude ball. She, for the female in- 

 sect is the worker, then begins a curious and laborious task. 

 Seizing the ball between her hind feet, she begins to roll it about 

 in the hot sunshine, not taking it direct to the shaft which she 

 has sunk, but remaining near the spot. Should rain come on she 

 ceases to roll, or should the ball be made just before sunset, she 

 waits for the morning before recommencing her labor. The con- 

 sequence of all this curious rolling about is twofold ; it accelerates 

 the hatching of the inclosed egg by the exposure to the sunbeams, 

 and it forms a thin, hard, clay-like crust round the soft material in 

 which the egg reposes. ' 



When the ball is sufficiently rolled, it is taken to the hole, 

 dropped down, and the earth filled in. The egg is very soon 

 hatched, and from it proceeds a little white grub, which finds it- 

 self at once in the midst of food, and begins to eatwigorously. 

 By the time it has devoured the whole of the contents of its co- 

 coon — if the mere empty shell may be so called — it is ready for 

 its change into the pupal form, and there lies in the earth until it 

 again changes its form and becomes a perfect beetle. 



If the reader will refer to the plate, he will there see two of 

 these beetles at work upon a ball, for it is not an unusual circum- 

 stance that two insects should propel the same ball. And upon 

 the accompanying illustration may be seen the completed cocoon. 



Several good examples of this cocoon are in the British Mu- 

 seum, as well as those belonging to allied insects. 



Frequently the beetle is very much puzzled to discover a place 

 wherein it may dig a hole for the reception of the ball, especially 

 where the ground is uniformly hard. The material which it de- 

 sires is generally to be found plentifully upon roads, but as roads 

 are usually too hard to be penetrated by the beetle's limbs, the 

 unfortunate insects may be seen rolling their pellets with a patient 

 and hopeless industry only to be equaled by that of Sisyphus. I 

 may perhaps mention in this place that an allied species living in 



