The Sacred Beetle and Others 



fresh materials for modelling, I obtained 

 from the mother a family of seven in all. 

 It was a magnificent result, but far inferior 

 to that derived from the following experi- 

 ment, which was better managed. 



This time, I take away the pellets as they 

 are formed, all but one, so as not to dis- 

 courage the mother by my kidnapping. If 

 she found nothing at all left of her previous 

 products, she might perhaps weary of her 

 fruitless labour. When the main loaf, of 

 her constructing, has all been used, I replace 

 it with another, made by myself. I go on 

 doing this, removing the ovoid that has just 

 been completed and renewing the finished 

 lump of food until the insect refuses to ac- 

 cept any more. For five or six weeks, the 

 sorely-tried mother never loses her patience 

 and each time begins all over again and 

 perseveringly restocks her empty nursery. 

 At last the dog-days arrive, the brutal season 

 which arrests all life by its excessive heat and 

 dryness. My loaves, however carefully 

 made, are scorned. The mother, overcome 

 with torpor, refuses to work. She buries 

 herself in the sand, at the foot of the last 

 pellet, and there, motionless, awaits the 

 liberating September rain. The indefati- 

 gable creature has bequeathed me thirteen 

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