68 NORTH AMERICAN INSECTS. 



First thev run around it, and examine it from all 

 sides, as if they wished to measure its size ; then they 

 proceed to examine the ground to see if there are 

 any stones in it which would prevent them from 

 digging. Finally, after having selected a place well 

 adapted for their purpose, they by their combined 

 efforts move the carrion there, placing themselves under 

 it, and by lifting it up with their head and thorax, 

 they at the same time dig the earth away with their 

 fore-feet, so that the carrion gradually sinks into the 

 ground. From time to time, one or the other of the 

 Beetles come out from beneath, as if to examine the 

 position and progress of the dead body ; then, creeping 

 under it again, the work recommences in concert, 

 After about three hours of hard labour, the body — 

 for instance, that of a frog— is so far buried that it 

 cannot be seen from the surface of the ground. They 

 then continue their labours in this manner for several 

 days, until the carrion is sunk about a foot in the 

 ground, and this they do probably in order to prevent 

 the Meat-fly from depositing her eggs upon it. 



The female Grave-digger deposits in the carrion 

 about thirty egg*, which are white, cylindrical, and 

 have a short filament at each extremity. These are 

 hatched in about two weeks, and the larvso proceeding 

 from them attain their full growth after four weeks 

 more. At this period they quit the dead body, go 



