Preface 



science gives, strives to gain the offing. But 

 the other, who is rather distrustful, inter- 

 rupts his laborious excavations, looks over- 

 board, sees the sacrilegious rape and leaps out 

 of the hole. Caught in the act, the shame- 

 less and dishonest partner makes untold ef- 

 forts to play upon the other's credulity, 

 turns round and round the inestimable orb 

 and, embracing it and propping himself 

 against it, with fraudulent heroic exertions 

 pretends to be frantically supporting it on a 

 non-existent slope. The two expostulate with 

 each other in silence, gesticulate wildly with 

 their mandibles and tarsi and then, with one 

 accord, bring back the ball to the burrow. 



It is pronounced sufficiently spacious and 

 comfortable. They introduce the treasure, 

 they close the entrance to the corridor; and 

 now, in the propitious darkness and the warm 

 damp, where the magnificent stercoral globe 

 alone holds sway, the two reconciled mess- 

 mates sit down face to face. Then, far 

 from the light and the cares of day and in 

 the great silence of the hypogeous shade, 

 solemnly commences the most fabulous ban- 

 quet whereof abdominal imagination ever 

 evoked the absolute beatitudes. 



13 



