Further Observations 



apparatus by unscrewing the three movable 

 shutters. My precautions against dryness 

 have been fully successful. The uppermost 

 third of the column of sand has retained a 

 certain moisture which gives firmness and 

 prevents any landslips. The middle third, 

 with its sheath of wet rags, is even more 

 moist. Here the victuals are heaped up in 

 a well-stored granary; the male is there, 

 brisk and energetic. In the lowest third, 

 which stands in the wet earth of a large 

 flower-pot, the plasticity is as great as that 

 which my spade encounters in the deep 

 natural burrow. Everything seems to be in 

 order; and yet there is not a trace of nest- 

 building at the bottom of the shaft; there 

 are no sausages prepared or even preparing. 

 All the pellets are untouched. 



It is quite obvious : the mother has refused 

 to lay and consequently the father has re- 

 frained from grinding. Directly the knead- 

 ing of loaves is discontinued, meal becomes 

 useless. The harvest is none the less plen- 

 tiful, in view of future events. The 239 pel- 

 lets to which my notes bear witness are there, 

 in their original condition and divided into 

 several heaps. The shaft is not straight; it 

 has spiral slopes, it has landings communi- 

 139 



