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western extremity； where Fort Moultrie stands； and where are some
miserable frame buildings； tenanted； during summer； by the
fugitives from Charleston dust and fever； may be found； indeed； the
bristly palmetto； but the whole island； with the exception of this
western point； and a line of hard； white beach on the seacoast； is
covered with a dense undergrowth of the sweet myrtle so much prized
by the horticulturists of England。 The shrub here often attains
the height of fifteen or twenty feet； and forms an almost
impenetrable coppice； burdening the air with its fragrance。
In the inmost recesses of this coppice； not far from the eastern or
more remote end of the island； Legrand had built himself a small
hut； which he occupied when I first； by mere accident； made his
acquaintance。 This soon ripened into friendshipfor there was
much in the recluse to excite interest and esteem。 I found him
well educated； with unusual powers of mind； but infected with
misanthropy； and subject to perverse moods of alternate enthusiasm
and melancholy。 He had with him many books； but rarely employed
them。 His chief amusements were gunning and fishing； or sauntering
along the beach and through the myrtles； in quest of shells or
entomological specimenshis collection of the latter might have
been envied by a Swammerdamm。 In these excursions he was usually
accompanied by an old negro； called Jupiter； who had been
manumitted before the reverses of the family； but who could be
induced； neither by threats nor by promises； to abandon what he
considered his right of attendance upon the footsteps of his young
〃Massa Will。〃 It is not improbable that the relatives of Legrand；
conceiving him to be somewhat unsettled in intellect； had contrived
to instill this obstinacy into Jupiter； with a view to the
supervision and guardianship of the wanderer。
The winters in the latitude of Sullivan's Island are seldom very
severe； and in the fall of the year it is a rare event indeed when
a fire is considered necessary。 About the middle of October； 18；
there occurred； however； a day of remarkable chilliness。 Just
before sunset I scrambled my way through the evergreens to the hut
of my friend； whom I had not visited for several weeksmy
residence being； at that time； in Charleston； a distance of nine
miles from the island； while the facilities of passage and
repassage were very far behind those of the present day。 Upon
reaching the hut I rapped； as was my custom； and getting no reply；
sought for the key where I knew it was secreted； unlocked the door；
and went in。 A fine fire was blazing upon the hearth。 It was a
novelty； and by no means an ungrateful one。 I threw off an
overcoat； took an armchair by the crackling logs； and awaited
patiently the arrival of my hosts。
Soon after dark they arrived； and gave me a most cordial welcome。
Jupiter； grinning from ear to ear； bustled about to prepare some
marsh hens for supper。 Legrand was in one of his fitshow else
shall I term them？of enthusiasm。 He had found an unknown
bivalve； forming a new genus； and； more than this； he had hunted
down and secured； with Jupiter's assistance； a scarabaeus which he
believed to be totally new； but in respect to which he wished to
have my opinion on the morrow。
〃And why not to…night？〃 I asked； rubbing my hands over the blaze；
and wishing the whole tribe of scarabaei at the devil。
〃Ah； if I had only known you were here！〃 said Legrand； 〃but it's so
long since I saw you； and how could I foresee that you would pay me
a visit this very night of all others？ As I was coming home I met
Lieutenant G； from the fort； and； very foolishly； I lent him
the bug； so it will be impossible for you to see it until the
morning。 Stay here to…night； and I will send Jup down for it at
sunrise。 It is the loveliest thing in creation！〃
〃What？sunrise？〃
〃Nonsense！ no！the bug。 It is of a brilliant gold colorabout
the size of a large hickory nutwith two jet black spots near one
extremity of the back； and another； somewhat longer； at the other。
The antennae are〃
〃Dey ain't NO tin in him； Massa Will； I keep a tellin' on you；〃
here interrupted Jupiter； 〃de bug is a goole…bug； solid； ebery bit
of him； inside and all； sep him wingneber feel half so hebby a
bug in my life。〃
〃Well； suppose it is； Jup；〃 replied Legrand； somewhat more
earnestly； it seemed to me； than the case demanded； 〃is that any
reason for your letting the birds burn？ The color〃here he turned
to me〃is really almost enough to warrant Jupiter's idea。 You
never saw a more brilliant metallic luster than the scales emit
but of this you cannot judge till to…morrow。 In the meantime I can
give you some idea of the shape。〃 Saying this； he seated himself
at a small table； on which were a pen and ink； but no paper。 He
looked for some in a drawer； but found none。
〃Never mind；〃 he said at length； 〃this will answer；〃 and he drew
from his waistcoat pocket a scrap of what I took to be very dirty
foolscap； and made upon it a rough drawing with the pen。 While he
did this； I retained my seat by the fire； for I was still chilly。
When the design was complete； he handed it to me without rising。
As I received it； a loud growl was heard； succeeded by a scratching
at the door。 Jupiter opened it； and a large Newfoundland；
belonging to Legrand； rushed in； leaped upon my shoulders； and
loaded me with caresses； for I had shown him much attention during
previous visits。 When his gambols were over； I looked at the
paper； and； to speak the truth； found myself not a little puzzled
at what my friend had depicted。
〃Well！〃 I said； after contemplating it for some minutes； 〃this IS a
strange scarabaeus； I must confess； new to me； never saw anything
like it beforeunless it was a skull； or a death's head； which it
more nearly resembles than anything else that has come under MY
observation。〃
〃A death's head！〃 echoed Legrand。 〃Ohyeswell； it has something
of that appearance upon paper； no doubt。 The two upper black spots
look like eyes； eh？ and the longer one at the bottom like a mouth
and then the shape of the whole is oval。〃
〃Perhaps so；〃 said I； 〃but； Legrand； I fear you are no artist。 I
must wait until I see the beetle itself； if I am to form any idea
of its personal appearance。〃
〃Well； I don't know；〃 said he； a little nettled； 〃I draw tolerably
SHOULD do it at leasthave had good masters； and flatter myself
that I am not quite a blockhead。〃
〃But； my dear fellow； you are joking then；〃 said I； 〃this is a very
passable SKULLindeed； I may say that it is a very EXCELLENT
skull； according to the vulgar notions about such specimens of
physiologyand your scarabaeus must be the queerest scarabaeus in
the world if it resembles it。 Why； we may get up a very thrilling
bit of superstition upon this hint。 I presume you will call the
bug Scarabaeus caput hominis； or something of that kindthere are
many simil