396 ANIMAL LIFE-HISTORIES 



on the other side of the midrib, so as to wrap this part (i.e. the 

 result of its second incision) round the part of the funnel already 

 constructed. This being done, the insect again enters the funnel, 

 bites three or four small cavities on the inside of the leafy wall, 

 and deposits an egg in each. Afterwards it emerges and fits the 

 overlaps together in a more perfect manner, so as to somewhat 

 contract the funnel and make it firmer ; then, proceeding to the tip, 

 this is operated on by another series of engineering processes and 

 made to close the orifice; this part of the operation being analogous 

 to the closing by the grocer of his paper-funnel after the sugar has 

 been put in. The operation of the beetle is, however, much more 

 complex, for it actually makes a sort of second small funnel of the 

 tip of the leaf, bends this in, and retains it by tucking in some 

 little projections. The work, which has probably lasted about an 

 hour, being now completed, the creature takes a longer or shorter 

 rest before commencing another funnel. We have given only a 

 sketch of the chief points of the work, omitting reference to smaller 

 artifices of the craft-master; but we may remark that the curved 

 incisions made by the beetle have been examined by mathe- 

 maticians and dully extolled as being conducted on highly satis- 

 factory mathematical principles." Perhaps the most extraordinary 

 part of the whole thing is that we do not know the purpose of this 

 elaborate arrangement, and closely related species get on quite 

 well by simply laying their eggs in various parts of plants. 

 Here is a good instance of a fascinating problem lying at our very 

 doors, and probably to be solved by ordinary intelligence coupled 

 with unlimited patience. 



The grubs of Burying- or Sexton-Beetle (species of Necro- 

 phorus, fig. 917) feed on carrion, and the adults bury the corpses 

 of small animals for the delectation of their progeny. The 

 following amusing account of the obsequies of a bird as con- 

 ducted by these creatures is given by Edward Newman (in 

 Introduction to the History of Insects): "The Sexton -Beetles 

 hunt in couples, male and female; and where six or eight are 

 found in a large animal, they are almost sure to be males and 

 females in equal numbers; they hunt by scent only, the chase 

 being mostly performed when no other sense would be very 

 available, viz. in the night. When they have found a bird, 

 great comfort is expressed by the male, who wheels round and 

 round above it, like a vulture over the putrefying carcass of 



