The Sacred Beetle and Others 



ground quite as easily as his unmutilated 

 fellow. And here is an even more conclu- 

 sive argument: the mothers, to whose lot the 

 labour of nest-building falls; the mothers, 

 those conspicuous workers, are deprived of 

 these horny growths or possess them only on 

 a greatly reduced scale. They simplify the 

 armour, or reject it entirely, because it is 

 more of an impediment than an assistance 

 to their work. 



Are we to look upon them as means of 

 defence? Not that either. The ruminants, 

 the main feeders of the dung-eaters, are also 

 given to wearing frontal armour. The 

 analogy of taste is obvious, though it is im- 

 possible for us to suspect its remote reasons. 

 The Ram, the Bull, the Goat, the Chamois,, 

 the Stag, the Reindeer and the rest of them 

 are armed with horns and antlers which they 

 use in amorous jousts or for the protection of 

 the threatened herd. The Onthophagi know 

 nothing of these contests. There is no strife 

 among them; and, should danger arise, they 

 content themselves with shamming death by 

 gathering their legs under their abdomen. 



Their armour then is a mere ornament, the 

 fine feathers of masculine coquetry. Ac- 

 cording to life's law of competition, the best- 

 dressed carry off the palm. Though we may 

 266 



