The Spanish Copris: the Mother 



a few moments of mild amusement when I 

 come across them. But we will not labour 

 the point. 



Better that you and I, friend Cop'ris, 

 should speak of things that do not raise 

 storms. Would you mind telling me the rea- 

 son of the reputation which you enjoyed in 

 the days of antiquity? Ancient Egypt ex- 

 tolled you in pink granite and porphyry; she 

 venerated you, O my fair horned one, and 

 awarded you honours similar to the Scarab's ! 

 You ranked second in the entomological 

 hierarchy. 



Horapollo tells us of two Sacred Beetles 

 with horns. One sported a single specimen 

 on her head, the other had two. The first 

 is you, the inmate of my glass jars, or at least 

 some one very like you. If Egypt had 

 known what you have just taught me, she 

 would certainly have placed you above the 

 Scarab, that roving pill-roller who deserts 

 her home and leaves her family, after it has 

 received its inheritance, to shift for itself as 

 best it can. Knowing nothing of your 

 wonderful habits, which history is noting for 

 the first time, she deserves all the greater 

 praise for having divined your merits. 



The second, the one with two horns, 

 would, according to the experts, appear to 

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