78 THE WONDERS OF INSTINCT 



If digging is required, he resumes the normal position. 

 So, turn and turn about, the sexton strives, now with his 

 claws in the air, when it is a question of shifting the body 

 or dragging it lower down; now with his feet on the 

 ground, when it is necessary to deepen the grave; 



The point at which the Mouse lies is finally recog- 

 nized as unassailable. A male appears in the open. He 

 explores the specimen, goes the round of it, scratches a 

 little at random. He goes back; and immediately the 

 body rocks. Is he advising his collaborators of what he 

 has discovered ? Is he arranging matters with a view to 

 their establishing themselves elsewhere, on propitious 

 soil? 



The facts are far from confirming this idea. When 

 he shakes the body the others imitate him and push, 

 but without combining their efforts in a given direction, 

 for, after advancing a little towards the edge of the 

 brick, the burden goes back again, returning to the point 

 of departure. In the absence of any concerted under- 

 standing, their efforts of leverage are wasted. Nearly 

 three hours are occupied by oscillations which mutually 

 annul one another. The Mouse does not cross the little 

 sand-hill heaped about it by the rakes of the workers. 



For the second time a male emerges and makes a round 

 of exploration. A bore is made in workable earth, 

 close beside the brick. This is a trial excavation, to re- 

 veal the nature of the soil; a narrow well, of no great 

 depth, into which the insect plunges to half its length. 

 The well-sinker returns to the other workers, who arch 



