4 COLEOPTEllA. 



places, upon the trunks, or near the roots of 

 decayed trees, gates, and Felled timber. The 

 larva j or grubs, which are buried in the ground 

 or in dung-hills, are fat, soft, and inactive. They 

 have six feet, a ringed body, and a hard scaly 

 head. They are destructive to vegetable roots, 

 and do great mischief to the corn, as well as 

 the grass. It is in search of the grub of the 

 cock-chaffer, S. Melolontha, that v the crows 

 are so assiduous in their attendance on the 

 plough. This insect, which from striking against 

 persons and other objects in its flight in the dusk 

 of the evening, has given rise to the saying 

 " as blind as a beetle," digs a hole about six 

 inches deep, and there deposits its eggs, from 

 whence proceeds the disgusting grub, which 

 remains under ground four years, changing its 

 skin, at least, once a year. 



The two largest species of this genus, are the 

 S. Hercules and the S. Goliah, the former an 

 inhabitant of South America, and the latter of 

 Africa. 



Many of this tribe are remarkable for their 



