The Glow-Worm and Other Beetles 



pencil can hardly brush aside. Driven off 

 the belly, the horde runs round the sufferer, 

 perches on his back and refuses to let go. 



I recognize the Beetle's Gamasus, the Tick 

 who so often soils the ventral amethyst of 

 our Geotrupes. No, life's prizes do not go 

 to the useful. Necrophori and Geotrupes 

 devote themselves to the general health; and 

 these two corporations, so interesting in their 

 hygienic functions, so remarkable for their 

 domestic morals, fall victims to the vermin 

 of poverty. Alas, of this discrepancy be- 

 tween the services rendered and the harsh- 

 ness of life there are many other examples 

 outside the world of scavengers and under- 

 takers ! 



The Burying-beetles display an exemplary 

 domestic morality, but it does not continue till 

 the end. In the first fortnight of June, the 

 family being* sufficiently provided, the sextons 

 strike work and my cages are deserted on 

 the surface, in spite of new arrivals of Mice 

 and Sparrows. From time to time, some 

 grave-digger leaves the subsoil and comes 

 crawling languidly into the fresh air. 



Another rather curious fact now attracts 

 my attention. All those who climb up from 

 underground are maimed, with limbs ampu- 

 tated at the joints, some higher up, some 

 314 



