Marvels of the Universe 



lOI 



deal with this insect. This, however, is 

 not the case, as has been shown by the 

 great French observer, J. H. Fabre, to 

 whose patient investigations are owed 

 most of the facts known concerning this 

 interesting creature. 



For two months, in June and July, the 

 beetles are busy collecting and rolling 

 balls of dung, which they devour. \'\'hen 

 the weather gets too hot they bury them- 

 selves in the cool ground and reappear in 

 the spring. Their attention is then taken 

 up with the continuation of their race. 



The beetle finds by scent the droppings 

 of some animal, to which it flies. It 

 collects masses of dung with its front legs. 

 which are bent, and passes them under 

 the body to the long circular back legs. 

 which shape the masses into a ball. The 

 ball is turned underneath the beetle and 

 rolled into a perfect sphere. In a very 

 short time a large ball is collected, some- 

 times as large as an apple. The beetle 

 then proceeds to roll the ball backwards 

 with its hind legs. All the time the 

 position of the ball is changed with the 

 hind feet, so that every part of it comes 

 in contact with the earth, and it is thus 

 rolled hard and round. The object of the 

 beetle is to move the ball aw-ay to a 

 suitable spot where it can dig a hole, 

 bury and devour it at leisure. It shows 

 the greatest patience and perseverance in 

 pushing the pellet over steep and difficult 

 ground, or when it is obstructed by a root 

 or stem. Should its pellet slip and roll 

 down a slope, it will push it up again 

 and again until the summit is achieved. 

 Another discomfort often awaits our 

 insect. Another beetle will not unfre- 

 quently join it. and proceed quite un- 

 necessarily to help it push the ball along. 

 The newcomer always has its face towards 

 the ball, to which it fastens itself. Its ob- 

 ject is to either rob the rightful owner of 

 its property, which it promptly does if an 

 opportunity is offered it, to decamp with 

 it, or at least to share the feast, without 

 having had the trouble to collect a meal 



I'holri hy-] 



TUMBLE-DUNG BEETLES 



Two other members of the same family as the Sac 

 that share its habit of burying dung in tunnels they 



[y. //. fnlT''. 



red Scarab, 

 have dug. 



