THE DUNG-BEETLE. 
359 
There are feveral other fpecies nearly refembling it, in the 
jmpurity of its habits, as well as its external form, 
viz. the blue fcarabseus, with the elytra and back fmooth, 
and the head armed with a rhomboidal helmet prominent 
at the top f : The fcarabaeus of an azure colour on the 
head and thorax, black legs, and pale coloured elytra f. 
The fcarabaeus of an oval figure, and black colour; the 
body fmooth, and the elytra ftriated : And the Icarabaeus, 
whofe head and thorax are black and without hairs, the 
legs pale ||. 
Thefe and many other pilular beetles are enumerated 
in the fauna fwecica of Lin rut us ; their fize and form are 
not very different, while they are characlerifed by ,fh° 
fame manners : They prowl continually amid every kind 
of filth, fome of them having the fame naufeous fmell 
with the impure fubtlances which (hey devour. 
The dung-beetle, which is here felefted for defcrip- 
tion, is fmooth and of a black colour above, fome mixed 
with green; on the lower fide there are a few draggling 
vibriflae. The head refembles a hood, raifed in the mid- 
dle, and projecting at the edges : The jaws extend be- 
yond the head. The thorax has a groove in the middle ; 
its circumference is marginated, and its figure is round 
and fmooth. The elytra are ornamented with a great 
number of longitudinal ftreaks : underneath the colours 
are various and brilliant, confifting of different fhades 
of blue and green. There is ohfervable on the anterior 
thighs, a fpot formed by fome red hairs, which, how- 
ever, in fome fubjetts is wanting. The tarfi appear 
weak 
t Syfteme Naturale du Regne Animal, Ord. i. gen. I. fpec. 14. 
} Idem ibidem, fpec. 15. || Rai, Infedla, p. It6. 
