106 COLEOPTERA. 
mazy circles. The willow and oak are 
their favourite food, and in some years 
they completely strip those trees of their 
foliage. 
Lucy, As they remain so long im- 
prisoned in the ground, I suppose, mam^ 
ma, they live many years in their perfect 
state ? 
Mothe7\ Only one season ; the cold at 
the beginning of winter kills them. 
Lucy. They are safe, at least from 
birds^ for their hard shells protect them. 
Mother. Oh no, owls, bats, house 
sparrows, and turkeys, and their con- 
stant enemies the rooks, all devour them 
greedily. 
Lucy. Thank you, mamma, for this 
entertaining account of the cockchaffer ; 
its changes are indeed very curious. 
Mother. The largest species of this 
genus, which has yet been found, is a 
native of South iimerica, and is called 
the elephant beetle, ovscarabccus Hercules; 
it is near four inches long, and the an- 
tennae, which are hard and shelly, and 
