CHAPTER XI 



ONTHOPHAGI AND ONITICELLI 



AFTER the notabilities of the Dung-beetle 

 tribe, if we omit the Geotrupes, who 

 belong to a different clan, there remains, 

 within the very limited radius of my observa- 

 tion, the Onthophagus rabble, of which I 

 could gather a dozen different species around 

 my house. What will these small fry teach 

 us? 



Even more zealous than their big com- 

 panions, they are the first that hasten to 

 exploit the heap left by the passing Mule. 

 They come in crowds and stay a long time 

 working under the spread table that gives 

 them shade and coolness. Turn over the 

 heap with your foot. You will be surprised 

 at the swarming population whose presence 

 no outward sign betrayed. The largest are 

 scarce the size of a pea, but some are much 

 smaller still; and these dwarfs are no less 

 busy than the others, no less eager to crumble 

 into dust the filth which, in the interests of 

 the public health, must be cleared away with 

 all speed. 



248 



