More Beetles 



ful moments; it has provided me with some 

 fascinating glimpses which I will try to set 

 forth. 



In March, at the time of the great nest- 

 building excavations, I dig up a couple in 

 the fields. I install them in my apparatus. 

 In case provisions should be needed as a re- 

 storative during the laborious sinking of the 

 shaft, I place a few Sheep-droppings under 

 the glass bell, near the mouth of the tube. 

 The trick of the empty entrance-hall, calcu- 

 lated to bring the prisoners into immediate 

 touch with the workable column of earth, 

 succeeds to perfection. Soon after their in- 

 stallation, the captives have recovered from 

 their excitement and are diligently at work. 



They were taken from their home in the 

 full ardour of excavation and they continue 

 in my garden the task which I interrupted. 

 It is true that I changed the site of their 

 workshop as quickly as I could return from 

 their place of origin, which was not far away. 

 Their zeal has not had time to grow cold. 

 They were digging just before removal and 

 they continue to dig. Time is pressing; the 

 pair will not willingly down tools, even after 

 an upheaval which one would think must 

 have demoralized them. 

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