128 THEIR MODE OF BURYING A BIRD. 



are almost sure to be males and females, in equal num- 

 bers : 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 an eagle, the female settles on it at 

 once, without this testimonial of satisfaction ; the male at 

 last settles also, and the bird undergoes 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 neighbour- 

 hood, and ascertain whether the place is suitable for inter- 

 ment : if on a ploughed field, there is no diniculty ; but if 

 on grass, or among stones, much labour is required to draw 

 the body to a more suitable place. The operation of bu- 

 rying 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 her- 

 self to be buried with it : the male begins by digging a 

 furrow all round the bird, at the distance of about half an 

 inch, turning the earth outside ; his head is the only tool 

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

 exceedingly powerful. 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 opera- 

 tion 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 in- 



