12 THE LIFE AND LOVE OF THE INSECT 



no facts whereby to trace the origin of these spoliations 

 which have become a custom, of this abuse of strength to 

 capture a lump of ordure. All that I can say is that 

 theft is in general use among the Scarab tribe. These 

 Bung-rollers rob one another among themselves with a 

 calm effrontery of which I know no other instance. I 

 leave it to future observers to elucidate this curious 

 problem in animal psychology and I return to the two 

 partners rolling their ball in concert. 



Let us call the two fellow-workers partners, although 

 that is not the proper name for them, seeing that the 

 one forces himself upon the other, who probably accepts 

 outside help only for fear of a worse evil. The meeting, 

 however, is absolutely peaceful. The Beetle owning the 

 ball does not cease work for an instant at the arrival of 

 his assistant ; and the newcomer seems animated by the 

 best intentions and sets to work on the spot. The way 

 in which the two partners harness themselves differs. 

 The owner occupies the chief position, the place of 

 honour : he pushes behind the load, with his hind-legs in 

 the air and his head down. The assistant is in front, in 

 the reverse position, head up, toothed arms on the ball, 

 long hind-legs on the ground. Between the two, the ball 

 rolls along, pushed before him by the first, dragged 

 towards him by the second. 



The efforts of the couple are not always very har- 

 monious, the more so as the helper has his back to the 

 road to be traversed, while the owner's view is impeded 

 by the load. Hence arise constant accidents, absurd 

 tumbles, taken cheerfully and in good part : each picks 

 himself up quickly and resumes the same position as 

 before. On level ground, this system of draught does 

 not correspond with the dynamic force expended, for 



