66 THE WONDERS OF INSTINCT 



ness of the Necrophori, my assistants were a child and an 

 illiterate. 



Little Paul's visits alternating with mine, we had not 

 long to wait. The four winds of heaven bore forth in all 

 directions the odor of the carrion; and the undertakers 

 hurried up, so that the experiments, begun with four 

 subjects, were continued with fourteen, a number not at- 

 tained during the whole of my previous searches, which 

 were unpremeditated and in which no bait was used as 

 decoy. My trapper's ruse was completely successful. 



Before I report the results obtained in the cage, let us 

 for a moment stop to consider the normal conditions of 

 the labors that fall to the lot of the Necrophori. The 

 Beetle does not select his head of game, choosing one in 

 proportion to his strength, as do the predatory Wasps; 

 he accepts it as hazard presents it to him. Among his 

 finds there are little creatures, such as the Shrew-mouse ; 

 animals of medium size, such as the Field-mouse; and 

 enormous beasts, such as the Mole, the Sewer-rat and the 

 Snake, any of which exceeds the powers of excavation of 

 a single grave-digger. In the majority of cases transpor- 

 tation is impossible, so disproportioned is the burden to 

 the motive-power. A slight displacement, caused by the 

 effort of the insects' backs, is all that can possibly be 

 effected. 



Ammophilus and Cerceris, Sphex and Pompilus ex- 

 cavate their burrows wherever they please; they carry 

 their prey thither on the wing, or, if too heavy, drag it 

 afoot. The Necrophorus knows no such facilities in his 

 task. Incapable of carrying the monstrous corpse, no 



