The Sacred Beetle and Others 



pull out that skewer which is holding it 

 down." 



This most elementary of all proceedings 

 and one so easy to such expert diggers was 

 not adopted, was not even tried. The Dung- 

 beetle was shrewder than man. The two 

 colleagues, one on this side, one on that, slip 

 under the ball, which begins to slide up the 

 pin, getting higher and higher in proportion 

 as the living wedges make their way under- 

 neath. The clever operation is made pos- 

 sible by the softness of the material, which 

 gives easily and makes a channel under 

 the head of the immovable stake. Soon 

 the pellet Is suspended at a height equal to 

 the thickness of the Scarabs' bodies. The 

 rest is not such plain sailing. The Dung- 

 beetles, who at first were lying flat, rise 

 gradually to their feet, still pushing with their 

 backs. The work becomes harder and 

 harder as the legs, in straightening out, 

 lose their strength; but none the less they 

 do It. Then comes a time when they can 

 no longer push with their backs, the limit 

 of their height having been reached. A 

 last resource remains, but one much less 

 favourable to the development of motive 

 power. This Is for the Insect to adopt one 

 or other of its postures when harnessed to 

 28 



