TWO YOUNG NATURALISTS. 



257 



spot, the earth, being there lighter, could be more 

 easily stirred. The Necrophori having discovered this 

 beforehand had chosen this position, and their burden 

 had to be removed to it. There, with their front legs, 

 which supplied the place of pick and shovel, they 

 commenced to dig the grave, throwing the earth on 

 either side as they carried on their work. 



Little by little the body was seen to get lower. 

 When it had descended to the required depth the 



HEJiiPTEKON (Pentatoma ornatula). 



Necrophori commenced to cover it with earth. After 

 this it only remained for them to wait till it was in a 

 fit state for them to deposit their eggs there. 



" Not badly done. A very good sort of funeral for 

 beings of that sort," said Rene". " But this is not 

 filling our boxes." 



And as he spoke, with a sudden access of industry, 

 he began with his beating-stick to beat in an unmer- 

 ciful manner the branches of a young oak-tree. 

 s 



