252 INSECT ARCHITECTURE. 



or three of them are sometimes engaged in trundling 

 one ball, which, from meeting with impediments on 

 account of the unevenness of the ground, is sometimes 

 deserted by them. It is, however, attempted by others 

 with success, unless it happens to roll into some deep 

 hollow or chink, where they are constrained to leave 

 it ; but they continue their work by rolling off the next 

 ball that comes in their way. None of them seem 

 to know their own balls,, but an equal care for the 

 whole appears to affect all the community. They 

 form these pellets while the dung remains moist, and 

 leave them to harden in the sun before they attempt 

 to roll them. In their moving of them from place to 

 place, both they and the balls may frequently be seen 

 tumbling about the little eminences that are in their 

 way. They are not, however, easily discouraged ; 

 and, by repeating their attempts, usually surmount 

 the difficulties." 



He further informs us that they "find out their 

 subsistence by the excellency of their noses, which 

 direct them in their flight to newly fallen dung, on 

 which they immediately go to work, tempering it with 

 a proper mixture of earth. So intent are they always 

 upon their employment, that, though handled or 

 otherwise interrupted, they are not to be deterred, 

 but immediately, on being freed, persist in their 

 work without any apprehension of danger. They 

 are said to be so exceedingly strong and active as to 

 move about, with the greatest ease, things that are 

 many times their own weight.* Dr. Brichell was 

 supping one evening in a planter's house of North 

 Carolina, when two of them were conveyed, without 

 his knowledge, under the candlestick. A few blows 

 were struck on the table, and, to his great surprise, 

 the candlestick began to move about, apparently 

 without any agency ; and his surprise was not much 



* See some still more curious instances in Insect Transforma- 

 tions, pages 179-185. 



