PILL-CHAFER. 
SPECIFIC CHARACTER. 
Scaraileus pilularius. S. niger opacus laevis subtus aeneus, 
thorace posterius rotundato. Linn. 
Syst. Nat. Gmel. 1. p. 1 555. 
Smooth j of a dusky black above, and 
brassy colour beneath 5 posterior part 
of the thorax rounded. 
Copris niger nitidus, &c. Geoffr. Ins. 1 . 
p. 91. no. 7. 
Pill-chafer Catesb. Carol. 3. pi. * 11. left-hand 
figure. S chaff. Ic. pi. 73. f. 6. 
Voet. Coleopt. t. 28. f. 4 Q. 
This insect has obtained the name of tumble dung 
beetle , from the dirty drudgery to which the great- 
est part of its life is devoted. It is found both in 
Europe and America, and particularly demands our 
attention on account of its singular manners. The 
name of pill-chafer is likewise justly given to these 
creatures from their indefatigable perseverance in 
rolling up pellets of dung, like pills, in the centre 
of each of which they deposit an egg. It seems that 
they are directed by an exquisite sense of smelling 
to newly fallen dung, to which they resort in 
swarms, and immediately begin to temper it with 
