Something About Beetles

Yon aro all familiar with fche coninion black beetlc k'iiiwn as the tumblebug, aud perhapa muy have geen it rolling a ball with its hind leg pushing it backward. The ball contains the egg of the beetle, and the ereature is taking it to a place of safety. A green beetle spotted with white is called the tiger beetle. He is a clever fellow and very euuning in his marnier of securing his prey. He will dig a hole a foot in depth and then crawl to the top and form himself into a bridgo across the chasni, burying his hoad iu such a marnier as to appear like something inanimate, bnt he will be on the alert for the unwary ereature that makes au attempt to ei'oss on his back. In an instant the bridge will give way aud the prey will be precipitated into the hole. The beetle will follow and quickly dispatch the game, when he will return, reform the bridge and allure another victiru. Old fashioned furnitnre is often cornpletely nüned by the larva? of a beetle called tho anobuiiu. A peculiar sound like the ticking of a clock is made by these beetles when they eall to each other, the noise being made by striking the jaws against their resting place, and often in old houses filled with old furuiture the superstitious, when they hear this peculiar sound, imagine the place to be haunted. Another beetle is found in dark cellars, where it thrives upon dust and trasli. It is so difficult to extermínate it that it is looked upon as soniethmg uncanny, and the ignorant regard its pivsence as an ill omeii. The sacred beetle of Egypt is not unlike our own common beetle, and the female lays her egg iu the same way, wrapped iu a substance which is to protect it and furnish food. She rolls it up into a ball with herfore legs, BOmetimes carrying it a long distance upon her head; digs a hole in the earth, deposite her egg laden ball, covers it up, and lenves it to attain its perfect development. The sexton beetle is a curióos óreatuiv. He lias a thick body and powerful limbs and a most acute sense of smell. No sooner does a small animal die than the sextous gather about the body and begiu to put earth upon it. Iri a few hours the dead animal has been covered and the beetles have laid their eggs in the carcasa, which is to nourish the larvse. A reniíirkable ereature is the bombardier beetle, and it is provided with a strange meaus of defense. It lives in a conimunity tmder stoues, and wheu disturbed discharges a fluid of a very penetratiug odor, mucli like gas, which explodes as it comes iu contact with the air and passes iuto vapor. Bighteen explosiona can be made in succession by one bombardier, and while these are being thrown off like a volley of artillery the beetle effects escape. The fluid is like nitric acid to the taste. It causes a sharp pain if placed upon the tongue and lea ves a yellowish stain. -