More Beetles 



in order that the scorching heat of summer 

 may never reach them and render them use- 

 less by drying them up. The grub develops 

 slowly; it will not attain the adult form until 

 September. In its underground home, it has 

 to brave with impunity the hottest and driest 

 period of the year, without running the risk 

 of finding its bread too stale. A depth of 

 five feet is not too much to save the grub and 

 its food from the fiery floods of sunlight in 

 the dog-days. 



The mother has the strength to dig a pit 

 of this kind by herself, however deep it may 

 be. No one will come to her assistance in 

 her untiring work of excavation; but at the 

 same time the rubbish has to be shot outside, 

 so that the shaft may be always clear. This 

 is needed first for the going and coming dur- 

 ing the storage of victuals and later for the 

 easy emergence of the offspring. 



Boring and carrying would be too much 

 for a single worker : the warm season would 

 be too short for such a task. Thus, there- 

 upon, long prepared by the events of each 

 successive year, a flash of light penetrates the 

 Dung-beetle's brain. The father says to 

 himself: 



158 



