THE SISYPHUS BEETLE 149 



grub, as they are immediately closed, and hermetically 

 sealed by the base of the jet, which is compressed as by 

 a stroke of a trowel. The stopper is so quickly put in 

 place that the contents remain moist in spite of the 

 frequent breaches made in the shell of the "pear." 

 There is no danger of an influx of the dry outer air. 



The Sisyphus seems to be aware of the peril which 

 later on, in the dog-days, will threaten its "pear," 

 small as it is, and so near the surface of the ground. 

 It is extremely precocious. It labours in April and May 

 when the air is mild. In the first fortnight of July, before 

 the terrible dog-days have arrived, the members of its 

 family break their shells and set forth in search of the 

 heap of droppings which will furnish them with food and 

 lodging during the fierce days of summer. Then come 

 the short but pleasant days of autumn, the retreat under- 

 ground and the winter torpor, the awakening of spring, 

 and finally the cycle is closed by the festival of pellet- 

 making. 



One word more as to the fertility of the Sisyphus. 

 My six couples under the wire-gauze cover furnished 

 me with fifty-seven inhabited pellets. This gives an 

 average of more than nine to each couple ; a figure which 

 the Scarahceus sacer is far from attaining. To what should 

 we attribute this superior fertility ? I can only see one 

 cause : the fact that the male works as valiantly as the 

 female. Family cares too great for the strength of one 

 are not too heavy when there are two to support 

 them. 



