The Gold Beetles: Their Food 



of a favourable spot for burial, the prelude 

 to the underground cocoon. Here is an ex- 

 cellent herd for the slaughter-house of the 

 Carabi. 



I collect them and place them in the viva- 

 rium. The procession soon forms again; 

 the caterpillars, about a hundred and fifty in 

 number, move in an undulating line. They 

 pass near the piece of board, in single file, 

 like the Pigs at Chicago. This is the pro- 

 pitious moment. I let slip my wild animals, 

 that is to say, I remove their shelter. 



The sleepers forthwith awaken, scenting 

 the rich prey defiling close at hand. One of 

 them runs forward; three or four others fol- 

 low, arousing the whole assembly; those who 

 are buried emerge; the whole band of cut- 

 throats falls upon the passing herd. Then 

 comes an unforgettable sight. The mandi- 

 bles get to work in all directions; the pro- 

 cession is attacked in the van, in the rear, in 

 the middle; the victims are assailed in the 

 back or the belly at random. The hairy 

 skins are ripped open, their contents escape 

 in a rush of entrails green with the pine- 

 needles that constitute the food; the cater- 

 pillars writhe convulsively and lash out with 

 their tails, suddenly coiling and uncoiling, 

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