More Beetles 



build their nests in it. Apart from this, the 

 other, usual operations were pursued accord- 

 ing to rule. Well, from the end of April 

 onwards, the males ascend to the surface, one 

 at a time. For a couple of days they wan- 

 der about the trellis-work, anxious to get 

 away. At last they tumble off, lie on their 

 backs and slowly give up the ghost. Age 

 has killed them. 



In the first week of June, I dig up the soil 

 in the cage from top to bottom. Of the fif- 

 teen males who were there at the beginning, 

 hardly one remains. All have died; all the 

 females survive. The harsh law is there- 

 fore inevitable. After helping with his hod 

 in the lengthy task of sinking the shaft, after 

 amassing suitable provisions and grinding 

 the meal, the industrious trident-bearer goes 

 away to die far from home. 



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