12 INSECT LIFE i 



and returns philosophically to the heap and makes 

 a new ball. As for the other, when all fear of a 

 surprise is over, he harnesses himself to the conquered 

 ball and pushes it whither it seems good to him. I 

 have occasionally seen a third thief rob the robber. 

 And upon my word I was not sorry. 



Vainly do I ask myself what Prudhon introduced 

 into Scarabaeus-morality the audacious paradox that 

 " Property spells theft," or what diplomatist taught 

 the dung-beetle that " they may take who have the 

 power, and they may keep who can." I have not 

 the evidence required to lead me to the origin of 

 these spoliations which have become a habit, or of 

 this abuse of strength in order to seize a ball of dirt. 

 All that I can affirm is that among beetles theft is 

 universal. These dung rollers pillage one another 

 with a cool effrontery really matchless. I leave it 

 to future observers to elucidate this curious problem 

 in the psychology of animals, and return to the 

 couple rolling their balls in partnership. 



But first let us dissipate an error current in books. 

 In the magnificent work of M. Emile Blanchard, 

 Metamorphoses^ Habits, and Instincts of Ani^nals, I 

 find the following passage : " Sometimes our insect 

 is stopped by an insurmountable obstacle : the ball 

 has fallen into a hole. At such a time the Ateu- 

 chus ^ displays a really astonishing grasp of the 

 situation, and a yet more astonishing power of com- 

 munication between individuals of the same species. 

 Recognising the impossibility of getting the ball 

 over the obstacle, the Ateuchus seemingly abandons 

 it, and flies away. If you are sufficiently endowed 

 ^ The Scarabseus is also called Ateuchus. 



