92 THE WONDERS OF INSTINCT 



nized ; not very clearly, for in the first place the two ob- 

 stinate riflers of the gallows attack the hind-legs of the 

 Mouse, a little below the ligature. They strip them bare, 

 flay them and cut away the flesh about the heel. They 

 have reached the bone, when one of them finds the raphia 

 beneath his mandibles. This, to him, is a familiar thing, 

 representing the gramineous fiber so frequent in the case 

 of burial in grass-covered soil. Tenaciously the shears 

 gnaw at the bond ; the vegetable fetter is severed and the 

 Mouse falls, to be buried a little later. 



If it were isolated, this severance of the suspending tie 

 would be a magnificent performance ; but considered in 

 connection with the sum of the Beetle's customary labors 

 it loses all far-reaching significance. Before attacking 

 the ligature, which was not concealed in any way, the 

 insect exerted itself for a whole morning in shaking the 

 body, its usual method. Finally, finding the cord, it sev- 

 ered it, as it would have severed a ligament of couch- 

 grass encountered underground. 



Under the conditions devised for the Beetle, the use of 

 the shears is the indispensable complement of the use 

 of the shovel; and the modicum of discernment at his 

 disposal is enough to inform him when the blades of 

 his shears will be useful. He cuts what embarrasses 

 him with no more exercise of reason than he displays 

 when placing the corpse underground. So little does 

 he grasp the connection between cause and effect that he 

 strives to break the bone of the leg before gnawing at 

 the bast which is knotted close beside him. The difficult 

 task is attacked before the extremely simple. 



