The Sacred Beetle and Others 



do with the remains of what it has digested? 

 Far from being embarrassed by them, it takes 

 advantage of them, as do many other soH- 

 taries cabined in a shell. It uses them to 

 keep out the draughts from its hermitage and 

 to pad it with quilting. It spreads them into 

 a soft couch, grateful to its delicate skin; it 

 builds them into a polished niche, a water- 

 tight alcove which will protect the long winter 

 torpor. I told you that one had but to ima- 

 gine one's self a Dung-beetle for a moment in 

 order to change one's language utterly. Be- 

 hold that which was hateful and burdensome 

 turned into something of value, which will 

 contribute largely to the grub's welfare. 

 Onthophagi and Copres, Scarabaei and Gym- 

 nopleuri have accustomed us to this kind of 

 industry. 



The sausage is in an upright position, or 

 nearly so. The hatching-chamber is at the 

 bottom end. As the grub grows, it attacks 

 the provisions overhead, but does not touch 

 the wall around, which is of considerable 

 thickness. It has indeed so huge a dish at its 

 disposal that abstinence becomes no difficult 

 matter. The Sacred Beetle's grub, which 

 has no occasion to take precautions against 

 the winter, has a very skimpy helping. Its 

 little pear is a niggardly ration and is con- 

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