THE SACRED BEETLE 7 



from the fray and carry the victuals to a fitting place. 

 Here the most striking characteristics of the Scarab begin 

 to show themselves. The Dung-beetle sets out without 

 delay ; he embraces the sphere with his two long hind- 

 legs, whose terminal claws, planted in the mass, serve as 

 rotatory pivots ; he obtains a purchase with the middle 

 pair of legs ; and, using the armlets of his fore-legs for 

 leverage, he travels backwards with his load, bending his 

 body, with his head down and his hmder part in the air. 

 The hind-legs, the principal factor in the machinery, 

 move continually, coming and going, shifting the claws 

 to change the axis of rotation, maintain the equilibrium 

 of the load and push it on by alternate thrusts to right 

 and left. In this way, the ball finds itself touching the 

 ground by turns with every point of its surface, a process 

 which perfects its shape and gives an even consistency 

 to its outer layer by means of pressure uniformly divided. 

 And now, cheerily ! It moves, it rolls ; we shall get 

 there, though not without accident. Here is a first diffi- 

 cult step : the Beetle is wending his way athwart a slope 

 and the heavy mass tends to follow the incline ; but the 

 insect, for reasons best known to itself, prefers to cut 

 across this natural road, a bold plan which a false step 

 or a grain of sand disturbing the balance may defeat. 

 The false step is made ; the baU rolls to the bottom of 

 the valley ; and the insect, toppled over by the impetus 

 of its load, kicks about, gets up on its legs again and 

 hastens to harness itself once more. The mechanism 

 is working better than ever. But look out, you scatter- 

 brain ! Follow the dip of the valley : that will save you 

 labour and mishap ; the road is good and level ; j^our 

 ball will roll quite easily. Not a bit of it ! The insect 

 prepares once more to mount the slope that was already 



