CHAPTER IV 



THE SACRED BEETLE : THE GRUB, THE METAMORPHOSIS, 

 THE HATCHESTG-CHAMBER 



The hatching-chamber is an oval recess about one centi- 

 metre^ in diameter. The egg is fixed at the bottom of 

 this recess. It is cylindrical in shape, rounded at both 

 ends, yellowish-white in colour and having nearly the 

 bulk of a grain of wheat, but shorter. The inner wall 

 of the recess is plastered with a greenish-brown matter, 

 shiny, half-fluid, a real cream destined to form the first 

 mouthfuls of the grub. In order to produce this delicate 

 fare, does the mother select the quintessence of the ordure ? 

 The appearance of the mess tells me differently and 

 assures me that it is a broth elaborated in the maternal 

 stomach. The Pigeon softens the corn in her crop and 

 turns it into a sort of milk-diet which she afterwards 

 disgorges for her brood. The Dung-beetle has the same 

 fond ways : she half -digests selected viands and disgorges 

 them as a fine pap, with which she hangs the walls of 

 the nest wherein her egg is laid. In this manner, the 

 grub, when hatched, finds an easily-digested food that 

 soon strengthens its stomach and allows it to attack the 

 underlying layers, which are less daintily prepared. 



A progressive change of diet is here made manifest. 

 On leaving the egg, the feeble little grub licks the fine 



1 '39 inch. — Translator's Note. 

 42 



