More Beetles 



The Sheep is not so lavish that she always 

 drops at one spot the number of pellets 

 needed by the Minotaur, two hundred and 

 more, as my subsequent observations will 

 testify. An emission of three or four dozen 

 may be regarded as a good many. The ru- 

 minant moves on and continues its distribu- 

 tion elsewhere. 



Now the pill-gatherer is not of a roaming 

 disposition. I cannot picture him going far 

 in quest of the wherewithal to endow his off- 

 spring. How could he find his way again, 

 after a long expedition, and come back home, 

 pushing with his feet the pellets which he 

 had picked up one by one? That flight and 

 scent combined may enable him to light upon 

 windfalls at a great distance for his own re- 

 fection, I am quite ready to admit : the sober 

 eater needs but little food; and, besides, the 

 matter is not urgent. But, when nest-build- 

 ing is in question, the need is felt of great 

 numbers of pellets, very quickly obtained. 

 The Beetle, it is true, has taken care to es- 

 tablish himself near as copious a heap as 

 possible. At night, he goes the rounds out- 

 side his dwelling, gathering the pellets almost 

 on his threshold; he will even continue his 

 search at a distance of some feet, in familiar 

 130 



