The Sacred Beetle and Others 



ous; and they all prove that, when taken 

 from her burrow with her work unfinished, 

 the mother shows indefatigable perseverance 

 in burying and depositing in a place of 

 safety the cradle which has begun to take 

 shape though as yet untenanted. For the 

 sake of a pellet of stuff which the presence 

 of the egg has not yet turned into a sacred 

 thing, she displays exaggerated prudence and 

 caution, as well as amazing foresight. No 

 tricks of the experimenter, no all-upsetting 

 accidents, nothing, unless her strength be 

 worn out, can divert her from her object. 

 She is filled with a sort of indomitable obsess- 

 ion. The future of her race requires that 

 the lump of stuff should descend into the 

 earth; and descend it will, whatever happens. 

 Now for the other side of the medal. 

 The egg is laid; everything is in order under- 

 ground. The mother comes out. I take 

 hold of her as she does so; I dig up the pear 

 or ovoid; I place the work and the worker 

 side by side on the surface of the soil, In the 

 conditions that prevailed just now. This 

 assuredly is the right moment for burying the 

 pill. It contains the egg, a delicate thing 

 which a touch of the sun will wither in its 

 thin wrapper. Expose it for fifteen minutes 

 to the heat of the sun's rays; and all will be 

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