The Geotrupes: Nest-building 



resting branch of the science, the only one 

 really worthy of our attention, is neglected 

 to such an extent that the commonest species 

 has no history or calls for serious revision of 

 the little that has been written about it. Vain 

 lamentations: things will go on in the same 

 old way for a long time to come. 



To return to the Geotrupes' sausage. Its 

 shape is diametrically opposite to that which 

 we have studied in the case of the Copris and 

 the Sacred Beetle, who are sparing of mate- 

 rial but very generous with their labour, ta- 

 king great care to give their work the shape 

 best-suited to preserve it against dryness. 

 With their ovoids and their spheres sur- 

 mounted with a neck, they are able to keep 

 the modest family-ration fresh. The Geo- 

 trupes knows nothing of these scientific me- 

 thods. More primitive in her ways, she sees 

 well-being only in overabundance. Provided 

 that the gallery be crammed with food, she 

 cares little how shapeless her pile may be. 



Instead of avoiding dryness, she appears to 

 go in search of it. Just look at the sausage. 

 It is inordinately long and clumsily put to- 

 gether. There is no compact, impermeable 

 rind; and there is an excessive amount of sur- 

 face, touching the earth for the whole length 

 of the cylinder. This is exactly what is 

 301 



