ries by the dor-beetles
(_Geotrupes_) (fig. 28) and _Aphodius_, and in warmer regions by the
"sacred" beetles of the Egyptians (_Scarabaeus_) (fig. 27), and allied
genera--feed both in the adult and larval stages, on dung or decaying
animal matter. The heavy grubs of _Geotrupes_, their swollen tail-ends
black with the contained food-material, are often dug up in numbers in
well-manured fields. The habits of _Scarabaeus_ have been described in
detail by J. H. Fabre. The female beetle in spring-time collects dung,
which she forms into a ball by continuous rolling, sometimes assisted
by a companion. This ball is buried in a suitable place, and serves
the insect as a store of food. During summer the insects rest in their
underground retreats, then in autumn they reappear to bury another
supply of dung, which serves as food for the larvae. Fabre states that
the mother-insect carefully arranges the food-supply so that the most
nutritious and easily digested portion is nearest the egg, to form the
first meal of the young larva. In some species of _Copris_ it is
stated that the female lays only two or three eggs at a time, watching
the offspring grow to maturity, and then rearing another brood.

[Illustration: FIG. 25.--_Cladognathus cinnamomeus_. Java.]

[Illustration: FIG. 26.--_Melolontha fullo_ (Cockchafer). S. Europe,
b, Antenna of male; c, antenna of female.]

[Illustration: FIG. 27.--_Scarabaeus Aegyptiorum_. Africa.]

[Illustration: FIG. 28.--_Geotrupes Blackburnei_. N. America.]

[Illustration: FIG. 29.--_Phaneus Imperator_. S. America.]

[Illustration: FIG. 30.--_Cetonia Baxii_. W. Africa.]

Among the vegetable-feeding chafers we usually find that while the
perfect insect devours leaves, the larva lives underground and feeds
on roots. Such are the habits of the cockchafer (_Melolontha
vulgaris_) and other species that often cause great injury to farm and
garden crops (see CHAFER). Many of these insects, such as the species
of _Phanaeus_ (fig. 29) and _Cetonia_ (fig. 30), are adorned with
metallic or other brilliant colours. The African "goliath-beetles"
(fig. 31) and the American "elephant-beetles" (_Dynastes_) are the
largest of all insects.

ANCHISTOPODA.--The families of beetles included by Kolbe in this group
are distinguished by the possession of six malpighian tubes, and a
great reduction in one or two of the tarsal segments, so that