60 EYE SPY 
occasionally the tumble-ball thus started, and out 
of the control of her spouse at the rear, may roll 
over and over for a long distance, but never alone. 
No amount of demoralization of this sort ever 
surprises her into losing her grip on her precious 
globular bundle. When at last it fetches up 
against a stone or stick, and she assures herself 
that she and her charge are safe and sound, no 
doubt she immediately mounts to its crest to sig- 
nal the lone Mr. T. afar off, who is quickly back 
of her again, and both are promptly off on a fresh 
journey. And so they keep it up, apparently for 
sport, perhaps for an hour. 
At length, when they have played long enough 
for there is no other reason apparent to homo 
sapiens they decide to plant their big, dirty pel- 
let. The place which they have chosen is not 
half as promising as many they have passed, but 
that doesn't seem to matter. Mrs. T. has said, 
" It shall go here," and that ends it. 
Then follows a most singular exhibition of ex- 
cavation and burial. The ball is now resting qui- 
etly on the dirt, and the two beetles are appar- 
ently rummaging around beneath it, trying the 
ground with the sharp edge of their shovel-shaped 
faces. And now, to avoid confusion, we will dis- 
miss Mr. T., and confine our observation strictly 
to the female, who usually (in my experience) con- 
ducts the rest of the work alone. 
