Further Observations 



apart. The males hve in burrows of mid- 

 dling depth; the females go down rather 

 lower. Some of these strenuous workers 

 have already, without the aid of a helper, 

 completed or very nearly completed the well 

 required for the laying. On the loth of De- 

 cember, I unearth one of them at a depth of 

 almost four feet. These early diggers are 

 not what I want. Wishing to observe the 

 work when in full swing, I choose subjects 

 buried not too low down in the fields. 



In the centre of the column of earth in 

 each apparatus, I make a shallow hole, 

 which marks the beginning of the burrow. 

 I drop the prisoner down it; and this is 

 enough to accustom her to the place. A re- 

 corded number of Sheep-droppings are dis- 

 tributed around the opening. Henceforth 

 things proceed of themselves : I have merely 

 to renew the provisions when the need arises. 



The cold season is spent in the balmy at- 

 mosphere of a green-house; and nothing re- 

 markable happens. A small mound is 

 formed, hardly big enough to fill the hollow 

 of my hand. The hour has not yet come for 

 serious operations. 



In the middle of February, when the al- 

 mond trees begin to blossom, the weather is 

 135 



I 



