The Burrow 



At nesting-time it is another matter. 

 They descend to a great depth underground. 

 Why? Because their family, which is 

 hatched about June, must find soft food 

 awaiting it at a time when the heat of sum- 

 mer will bake the soil hard as a brick. The 

 tiny sausage, if it lay at a depth of ten or 

 twenty inches, would become hard as horn 

 and uneatable ; and the grub, incapable of bit- 

 ing into the tough ration, would perish. It is 

 important therefore that the victuals should 

 be cellared at a depth where the most violent 

 heat of the sun cannot lead to desiccation. 



Many other food-packers know the risks 

 of excessive dryness. Each has his own 

 method of warding off the danger. The 

 Geotrupes makes his home under the volu- 

 minous heap dropped by the Mule, an excel- 

 lent obstacle to speedy desiccation. Besides, 

 he works in autumn, the season of frequent 

 showers ; moreover, he gives his product the 

 shape of a big roly-poly, of which the middle 

 part, the only part used, gives up its mois- 

 ture very slowly. For these several reasons, 

 he digs burrows of medium depth. 



The Sacred Beetle likewise attaches no 

 value to remote retreats. He houses his off- 

 spring in vaults at no great distance from the 



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