The Dung-Beetles of the Pampas 



abounds. The whole, cunningly kneaded 

 and softened, becomes a ball made on the 

 spot, without any rolling-process, in the same 

 way as the sphere of the other pill-manu- 

 facturers. Let us add that this ball, a 

 ration calculated by the needs of the grub, is 

 very nearly constant in size, whatever the 

 dimensions of the final calabash. 



The sausage-meat is now ready. It is set 

 in place in the wide-open clay bowl. 

 Loosely packed, without compression, the 

 food will remain free, will not stick to its 

 wrapper. 



Next, the potter's work is renewed. The 

 insect presses the thick lips of the clay cup, 

 rolls them out and applies them to the pre- 

 pared force-meat, which is eventually con- 

 tained by a thin partition at the top end and 

 by a thick layer every elsewhere. A wide 

 circular pad is left on the top partition, 

 which is thin in view of the weakness of the 

 grub that is to perforate it later, when ma- 

 king for the provisions. Manipulated in its 

 turn, this pad is converted into a hemi- 

 spherical hollow, in which the egg is forth- 

 with laid. 



The work is completed by rolling out and 

 joining the edges of the little crater, which 

 closes and becomes the hatching-chamber. 

 259 



