decay; frequenting dunghills, carrion, &c. and depositing their eggs chiefly in the latter, which for greater security, they contrive to bury underground. Several of these insects have been seen working together, till they have accomplished the task of dragging under the surface the body of a mole, in the space of an hour, so that no trace of it was to be perceived.

The larvm of the genus Gassida, or Helmet Beetle, eat the under side of the leaves of plants; frequenting, particularly, thistles, and those of the verticillated kinds such as mint, &e. where they hide themselves under a cover of their own excrement, supported in the air above their bodies, by means of the two prongs at the extremity of the tail. When this artificial umbrella becomes too dry, they cast it off, and form a new one. It is very small, of an oval figure; the colour of its back bright green, and the under part coal black. Sonic of the foreign species are very heautiflul.

Amongst the pretty insects of the next genus, Goccinella, you will discover your old favourites, that have so often amused us in our childish ,years the gay tribe of Lady-Birds: some scarlet with black spots, others yellow with black, or black with red, or yellow with white spots, according to the species. Though

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