210 



THE FOOD OF ANIMALS 



esting account of the habits of this species, as observed by 

 Fabre in Southern France, is given by Sharp (in The Cambridge 

 Natural History)'. "These insects act the part of scavengers 

 by breaking up and burying the droppings of cattle and other 

 animals. The female Scarabaeus detaches a portion of the dung 

 and forms it into a ball, sometimes as large as the fist; this it 



Fig. 443. The Sacred Scarab (Scarabaus sacer) 



rolls along by means of its hind-legs, by pushing, when necessary, 

 with its broad head, or by walking backwards and dragging the 

 ball with its front legs [notice in fig. 443 the suitability of these 

 parts for such uses]. The strength and patience displayed by 

 the creature in the execution of this task are admirable. Fre- 

 quently the owner of this small spherical property is joined, so 

 Fabre informs us, by a friend, who is usually of the same sex, 

 and assists her in pushing along the ball till a suitable place is 

 reached. When this is attained, the owner commences to ex- 

 cavate a chamber for the reception of the ball ; sometimes the 



