Daily Kennebec journal., 1895-07-04

There is found in every state Of the Un-
ion a little insect that used to be a god.
His history is wonderful account Of ups
and downs. You would never guess from
his personal appearance that he was once
worshiped by human beings, for he is very
plain and modest looking. He goes about
his daily toll in the most cheerful and
matter of fact way, seemingly more inter
ested In rearing heirs than in studying an
cestors. He recks not that his name was
once sacred scarabpus of the Egyptians.
Today he is plain Mr.. Tumblebug, at your
service.
But tho tumblcbug is of great interest
In himself, leaving out all mention Of his
history This is an account of the peculiar
manner in which the Matching of the egg
is provided for After being lpid it is i'm,
mediately rolled up in a ball of mud and
manure about the size Of a big marble
When the ball is thoroughly dried, Mr. and
Mrs. Tumblebug start it rolling in search
of some convenient place in which to bury
It, This place may not be fond for some
yards and the ingenity displayed in "nayi-
gating'' it over that distance is far greater
than that shown by some human beings In
their chosen business.
In the first place, the ball is round.
This, of course, is the best form for roll
ing. But even then the slightest Unequal
ity of the ground or even blade Of grass
would present serious obstacle. OF course
If the tumblcbug were as big as a mouse
he could carry the ball in his mouth if he
were adapted for pushing he could move
it in that way, but unfortunately he Is
lx-fv, ft,n In To-
of so many difficulties he illustrates the
old saying that there is more than one way
of killing cat.
The method Is this. Mrs. Tumblebug
climbs up on top of the ball and gets good
and ready to move toward the front edge,
so as to start it going. Mr. I. stands on
his head behind, with front feet on the
ground, while the hind feet and the tip of
the abdomen are against the ball. When
all is ready, Mr.. Z. gives the signal (sup-
posedly), Mrs. Il. gives lurch forward,
and, lo they're off. Mrs. T. usually has
very bad luck Immediately after the start,
for almost invariably she is carried to the
ground, and the ball rolls over her. But
she is very good natured about it, She
doesn't get cross, or refuse to play any
more. She just climbs out from under,
SLthtS tlIt uuSt ouU VI ncE ShlTthy iluuHls
the ball again and is ready for another
start.
If down grade Is encountered, the
work is so much the easier, although bugs
and ball will frequently land in heap at
the bottom. But when an up grade or
large obstacle intervenes the trouble Is
very great. In such case tumblcbugs
will do one of two things. They will either
q, y.,1I .,x- IL.
the former case, another family will fire.
quently happen along and take charge of
affairs, just as if the ball were their own.
In the latter case the neighbors always
turn out, If there are any such.
If you handle tumblebugs while they
arc at work, they remain very quiet until
you are through, and then resume rolling
the ball. Nothing seems to disturb them
After the bali has fairly started, the
bugs frequently leave it, running around
without apparent reason. They are, how
ever, searching for good place of deposit
The hole in which it finally rests is several
inches and often foot or more in depth,
and in order that the bugs may be able to
cxcavate 1t the digging" must be good
When the site is once chosen, n queer
method of making the hole is resortcd TO.
The way of rolling the ball is common
place compared to it. You would natural
ly think that the bugs would first dig tho
hole and then push the ball into it. No
such thing. They quite reverse this proc
ess. One of the bugs gets under the ball
and digs with his hind legs throwing tho
dirt out around the edges. As he gets
lower the ball sinks with him, and when
the hole is deep enough he digs his way
around the ball, which has followed him
all the way, and then pushes up through
the loose dirt to the surface. What ho does
Tor fresh air during this process Is some
Thing that no man can find out.
When the egg matches in its subterra-
mean abode the Larvae feed on tho material
Oh their envelope. In course of time they
themselves With the same ma
terial, cemented together with gelati-
nous substance exuded from their bodies
and later emerge us perfect insects. The
ancient Romans esteemed the lary@ OF the
as great delicacy. They were
eaten after being fried . delicate brown
Modern cpicures have taken to snails.
The Egyptian variety Of the tumble
bug, which is also found over Africa and
southern Europe, Is just the same as that
iound in the United States, except that II
IS twice as large. In shape, color and
habits it Is identical Its shell Is very
1ard, and the legs particularly the hind
'nes, arc very strong, This makes the In
'oct well adapted for digging. The sense
u smell is wonderfully developed, and for
his reason the tumblebug is exceedingly
'aluable in its particular work for man
ilnd. 1t was created for scavcnger.
BY man this renowned insect has been
from the humble lot Of most of
IS tribe. The ancient Egyptians consid-
red it sacred and paid it divine honors.
they represented it on temples. obelisks
ND statues and inclosed it in collins with
he embalmed bodies Of the dead. 1t was
favorite deity, representing the sun. As
ypical of the luminary which is the source
I light and heat it came likewise to be re-
arded as the emblem of fertility, and it is
aten by Egyptian women to this day un-
er the idea that ii is efficacious.
1t Is not difficult to sec how the tumble
ug should come to represent the sun.
he ball is rolled backward by the insect,
ast as the larger ball (the earth) Is by the
un. In its arduous and incessant labors
no tumblebug resembles the sun. Its six
'gs have five joints each, or 80 in all.