Saprini, Dermestes and Others 



keen flannel, decorates his wing-cases with 

 red stripes and sports an orange club at the 

 tip of his antennae. The Wavy Dermestes, 

 wearing a leopa»-d-skin cape and a jerkin 

 striped with ermine, could almost, humble 

 though he be, rival the elegance of this 

 mighty undertaker. 



Both of them numerous, the two Dermes- 

 tes come to my earthenware receptacles with 

 a common aim; to dissect the dead body to 

 the bone and to feed on what the maggots 

 have left. If the work of these is not com- 

 pleted, if the lower surface of the corpse is 

 still oozing, they wait, gathered on the edges 

 of the pan or clinging in long rows to the 

 cords by which it is slung. In their tumul- 

 tuous impatience, falls are frequent, which 

 throw the clumsy insect on its back and for 

 a moment reveal the white flannel of the 

 belly. The thoughtless Beetle soon re- 

 covers his feet, runs away and once more 

 climbs the strings. In the kindly sunshine, 

 frequent pairings occur, which is another 

 way of killing time. There are no fights 

 for the best places and the best morsels. 

 The banquet is plentiful; there is room for 

 all. 



At last the victuals are in the requisite 



43 



