IMPEEFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 17 



others take their place: their successors do the same; and 

 such is the constant order of their march. It seems probable, 

 as these columns are extended to a considerable length, that 

 the object of this successive change of leaders is to convey 

 constant intelligence to those in the rear of what is going 

 forward in the van. Whether any thing like this takes place 

 for the regulation of their motions in the innumerable locust- 

 armies, which are sometimes co-extensive with vast kingdoms ; 

 or whether their instinct simply directs them to follow the 

 first that moves or flies, and to keep their measured distance, 

 so that, as the prophet speaks, " one does not thrust another, 

 and they walk every one in his path 1 ," must be left to future 

 naturalists to ascertain. And I think that you will join with 

 me in the wish that travellers, who have a taste for Natural 

 History, and some knowledge of insects, would devote a share 

 of attention to the proceedings of these celebrated animals, so 

 that we might have facts instead of fables. 



The last order of imperfect associations approaches nearer 

 to perfect societies, and is that of those insects which the so- 

 cial principle urges to unite in some common work for the 

 benefit of the community. 



Amongst the Coleoptera, Ateuchus pilularius, a beetle before 

 mentioned, acts under the influence of this principle. " I 

 have attentively admired their industry and mutual assisting 

 of each other," says CatCsby, " in rolling those globular balls 

 from the place where they made them to that of their inter- 

 ment, which is usually the distance of some yards, more or 

 less. This they perform breech foremost, by raising their 

 hind parts, forcing along the ball with their hind feet. Two 

 or three of them are sometimes engaged in trundling one ball, 

 which, from meeting with impediments from 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 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 



VOL. II. 



1 Joel. ii. 8. 



C 



