BURYING A BULLIINCH. 89 



satisfaction. The male at lust settles also, and the bird under- 

 goes the scrutiny of four at least of the senses — touch, smell, 

 sight, and taste — for their heads are continually diving among 

 the feathers of the bird, and a savoury and ample meal is 

 made before the great work is begun. After the Beetles have 

 appeased the calls of hunger, the bird is abandoned for a while ; 

 they both leave it to explore the earth in the neighbourhood, 

 and ascertain whether the place is suitable for interment. If 

 on a ploughed field, there is no difficulty ; but if on grass or 

 among stones, much labour is required to draw the body to a 

 more suitable place. 



' The operation of burying is performed almost entirely by 

 the male Beetle, the female mostly hiding herself in the body 

 of the bird about to be buried, or sitting quietly upon it, and 

 allowing herself to be buried with it. The male begins by 

 digging a furrow all round the bird, at the distance of about 

 half an incii, turning the earth outside. His head is the only 

 tool used in this operation ; it is held sloping outwards, and 

 is exceedingly powerfvil. After the first furrow is completed, 

 another is made within it, and the earth is thrown into the 

 first furrow ; then a third furrow is made, which being under 

 the bird, the Beetle is out of sight. Now the operation can 

 only be traced by the heaving of the earth, which soon forms 

 a little rampart round the bird ; as the earth is moved from 

 beneath, and the surrounding rampart increases in height, the 

 bird sinks. After incessant labour for about three hours the 

 Beetle emerges, crawls upon the bird, and takes a survey of his 

 work. If the female is on the bird, she is driven away by the 

 male, who does not choose to be intruded on during the im- 

 portant business. 



' The male Beetle then remains for about an hour perfectly 

 still, does not stir hand or foot ; he then dismounts, diving 

 again into the grave, and pulls the bird down by the feathers 

 for half an hour. Its own weight appears to sink it but very 

 little. The earth then begins heaving and rising all round, as 

 though under the influence of a little earthquake ; the feathers 

 of the bird are again pulled, and again the bird descends. At 

 last, after two or three hours' more labour, the Beetle comes 

 up, again gets on the bird, and again takes a survey, and then 

 drops down as though dead, or fallen suddenly fast asleep. 



