More Beetles 



clinging with their feet, dribbling and biting. 

 Those as yet unscathed dig desperately in an 

 attempt to take refuge underground. Not 

 one succeeds. They are hardly half-way 

 down before the Carabus hastens up, pulls 

 them out and rips them open. 



If the butchery were not occurring in a 

 dumb world, we should have all the fright- 

 ful hubbub of the Chicago massacres. But 

 it needs the ear of the imagination to hear 

 the shrieks and lamentations of the eviscer- 

 ated. This ear I possess; and I am seized 

 with remorse for having provoked such suf- 

 ferings. 



The Beetles are now rummaging every- 

 where in the heap of dead and dying, each 

 tugging and tearing at a morsel which he 

 carries off to swallow privately, away from 

 envious eyes. After this mouthful, another 

 is hurriedly cut off the carcase, followed by 

 more still, as long as any dismembered bodies 

 remain. In a few minutes the procession is 

 reduced to a few shreds of still quivering 

 flesh. 



There were a hundred and fifty cater- 

 pillars; the butchers are twenty-five. This 

 makes six victims to each Carabus. If the 

 insect had nothing to do but to kill indef- 

 280 



