28 o 
TRANSFORMATIONS OF INSECTS. 
whole proceeding, and it desires to place its eggs in a safe place. 
One of the females lays an egg, but instead of being satisfied 
with allowing it to remain, like other Coprophagi , in the midst of a 
mass of manure, or in a hole in a dung-heap, it rolls it up in a 
little mass of refuse in the shape of a pill. The beetle rolls 
the mass about over the soil with its hind legs, and soon makes 
it into a round ball. The ball is not left to shift for itself, for 
the insect is most particular about the place where it is to be 
put by ; it seeks a position in which the future larva can live 
comfortably and safely, and, in consequence, often has to carry 
and push the burden for considerable distances. The beetle takes 
its time, perseveres, and after using much ingenuity, usually suc- 
ceeds in its endeavours. Should the surface of the soil be very 
irregular, the beetle places the bundle on its head, the flat shape 
and tubercles of which are admirably fitted to receive and hold 
the weight, and carries it over everything until easier ground 
is reached. Sometimes an impediment is so great that this 
manoeuvre is of no use, and the beetle drops the ball, and appa- 
rently gives up the labour in disgust at the unexpected diffi- 
culty ; but this is not really so. The Aieuchus flies off, and 
soon returns with several others ; and it is said that patience will 
always reward observers with a wonderful sight. The beetles 
set to work, and push and pull this way and that, and crawl over 
all sorts of places, mutually assisting each other. When several 
of them are thus seen rolling a ball, it is a suggestive sight, 
and very incomprehensible to those who are ignorant of natural 
history. 
As soon as the Ateuchus has rolled the ball to the place 
where it wishes, the insect begins to dig a hole, and in this it is 
assisted by its front legs, the large spines of which enable them 
to dig rapidly and easily. The tarsus is deficient, for it would 
have been in the way when the legs were digging into hard soil. 
Having such capital tools, the insect excavates the hole rapidly, 
and when it is sufficiently spacious and deep, the ball is rolled 
down to the bottom ; then the beetle uses its long hind legs, 
which are furnished with a sort of brush, to fill in the cavity 
and smooth the earth over it. 
Many amulets and Egyptian pictures represent an Ateuchus , 
