First Attempts at Observation 



He kneads it, as its moisture enables him to 

 do, he works it up into a plug which he 

 thrusts back into the shaft. Then the plug 

 begins to move. The load precedes him; 

 and he pushes it from behind with his three- 

 pronged fork. The work of transport 

 would be a magnificent sight did the acci- 

 dental peep-holes in the gallery lend them- 

 selves better to our curiosity. Unfor- 

 tunately, they are few and small and none 

 too clear. 



Let us try to devise something better. 

 In a dimly-lit corner of my study I hang 

 perpendicularly a glass tube of smaller cal- 

 ibre than the first. I leave it as it is, un- 

 provided with an opaque sheath. At the 

 bottom is a nine-inch column of earth. All 

 the rest is empty and may be easily observed, 

 if the Minotaurs consent to work under such 

 disadvantageous conditions. Provided that 

 the experiment be not unduly prolonged, 

 they do consent and very readily, so im- 

 perious is the need of a burrow as laying- 

 time draws nigh. 



I extract from the soil a couple engaged 



in excavating their natural shaft and place 



them in the glass tube. Next morning I find 



them continuing their interrupted business 



107 



