THE SPANISH COPRIS 



73 



be done. Towards the end of the second day, however, 

 the globe is pronounced right and proper. The mother 

 chmbs to the dome of her edifice and there, still by 

 simple pressure, hollows out a shallow crater. In this 

 basin the egg is laid. 



Then, with extreme caution, with a delicacy that is 

 most surprising in such rough tools, the hps of the crater 

 are brought together so as to form a vaulted roof over 

 the egg. The mother slowly turns, rakes a httle, draws 



Fig. 6. — The Sjjanish Copiis's pill 

 dug out cupwisc to receive the 

 egg- 



Fig. 7. — The Sjianish Copris's 

 pill : sectiou showirig the 

 hatching - chamber and the 

 egg. 



the material upwards and finishes the closing. This is the 

 most tickhsh work of all. A careless pressure, a miscalcu- 

 lated thrust might easily jeopardize the life of the germ 

 under its slender ceiling. 



From time to time, the work of closing is suspended. 

 The mother, motionless, with lowered forehead, seems to 

 auscultate the underlying cavity, to Usten to what is 

 happening within. All's well, it seems ; and the patient 

 labour is resumed : a fine scraping of the sides towards 



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