Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-10-11
HR n TLES.

lhat class OF insects which naturaliSts
term Coeoptera, and, in common parlance
arc known by tho name of beetles, seems
to have been studied with more interest and
care than most other chronological species
spread over the globe. Tho ancents knew
them under the name of scarabtei; and al
most all offer TO the eye the bright colors of
the rainbow and the beautiful metallic Of
fects which have from the earliest time at
tracted the attention of men. There is no
difficulty in distinguishing them from 9TH
err insects, owing to their wings, which are
four in number. The under ones arc slen-
der, marked with rami6ed nervures, fold
ing and unfolding with remarkable facili-
ty when the insect takes its flight or settles
on any object. The upper wings are of
hard texture, and form sheaths for the 9TH
ers; they are termed "elytra" and open at
right angles TO the body when flying new
er beating or vibrating. Their name is leg
ion, aud 1t is asserted that not less than
hundred thousand varieties have been
marked in different collections.
The individual species of scarab@i may
be dividsd into seven principal classes, of
which tho first, that of the Cetoniide, COM
DfcnpnuS II SeTltS Vi Dtdulllul lISttlS,
which feed on the juices of flowers. The
golden beetle Is the most charming; in
some countries 1t Is called the king of bee
ties. 1t is of golden green with white
spots when II flies in the sun, scarcely
raising the elytra, its whole body sparkles
| like polished metal. During the summer
months it lives in gardens, always choos-
ing the most brilliantly colored flowers on
which to rest it penetrates TO the heart of
the roses and peonies, or settles on the pet
ais OF the honeysuckle, which 1t eats, suck
ing the honeyed liquid. 1t is perfectly in
offensive, does no harm to vegetation. and
has not the unpleasant smell which be-
longs to many of the tribe. The females
lay their eggs at the foot of trees, among
decayed wood, and oven in the nests OF
ants. Here the young Larvae find their
nourshment in woody morsels for three
years, and then construct their cocoons,
from which in due time the beetles energies.
One beautiful kind found in the Philip
pine Islands, is so much admired by the
ladies that they are kept as pets in small
bamboo cages. The Brazilian species are
of an immense size and may be seen rest
ing under the leaves of the maize planta-
tions, or flying round the tops of the tall
est trees. These, again, are surpassed in
size by the Goliath, which is peculiar TO
tropical Africa. Collectors have been so
anxious for specimens, and found them so
difficult to obtain, that as much as $3.50 has
been given for one of these insects, which
are common food of tie natives when
roasted.
The sacred beetle of the Egyptians be-
longs to the Coprine; its singular instincts
had without doubt much astonished them,
for il is found on the most ancient monu-
ments in the land of the Pharaohs, depict
ed on amulets, placed in sarcophagi, and
reJted with the greatest veneration by the
dwelers on the banks of the Nile. They
were all agricultural people, and valued
these great black insects for their habit OF
clearing away noxious substances. An
oilv substance which they secrete keeps
the ir skins bright and glossy, 80 that none
of the dirty matter among which they live
ca II adhere to them. The fore-ieet are
armed with spnes; while the hind ones
are much longer, and suited for the work
they have to perform. The care which the
female takes for the preservation of its
; eggs and the development of its Larvae is
very curious. Instead of simply hiding
them, like other beetles, in lump of mud
. or some little cavity, where the egg is laid
: she surrounds it with manure, and rolls II
up into a little bal! with her hind-legs
> soon il is a solid, well-kneaded mass, will
the egg in the centre. Already choice has
been made of suitable place where thu
larve, when batched, can find a living
; Toward this point she sets out, rolling thu
ball before her; meeting with some obsta
Gle, or q rough piece of ground, she place.
the lump on her broad head, and thus car
[ ries il over But should it prove insur
, mountable she flies off to seek other aid
and soon returns with five or six others
, who assist her by pushing on all sides, ant
f thus carry the precious burden to its des
tinalion. Then the hole must be dug IL
t which to deposit 1.-THE fore-legs now CONF
s into play, being especially formed 70
3 spade sand when il is deep enough lh
, ball is rolled in, the hind legs brush dow
: the earth, and every trace of the hole dis
Y appears under the parents indeiatigabl'
labor.