The Dung-Beetles of the Pampas 



tlons, one of which exploits dung, the other 

 corpses. 



With very few exceptions, the latter has 

 no representatives in our climes. I have 

 mentioned the little Oval Onthophagus as a 

 lover of carrion corruption; and my memory 

 does not recall any other example of the 

 kind. We have to go to the other world to 

 find such tastes. 



Can it be that there was a schism among 

 the primitive scavengers and that these, at 

 first addicted to the same industry, after- 

 wards divided the hygienic task, some bury- 

 ing the ordure of the intestines, the others 

 the ordure of death? Can the comparative 

 frequency of this or the other provender have 

 brought about the formation of two trade- 

 guilds? 



That is not admissible. Life is insepara- 

 ble from death; wherever a corpse is, there 

 also, scattered at random, are the digestive 

 residues of the live animal; and the pill-roller 

 is not fastidious as to the origin of this waste 

 matter. Dearth therefore plays no part in 

 the schism, if the true dung-worker has act- 

 ually turned himself into an undertaker, or 

 if the undertaker has turned himself into 

 a true dung-worker. At no time have ma- 



■2&Z 



