91 



We may often sre one thus labouring at a stone 

 four times as big as his own body. And as it can 

 only move backward, and the poise is hard to keep, 

 especially op a slope of crumbly sand, the stone 

 frequently slips when near (he -verge, and rolls down 

 to the bottom. In this case he attacks it again, and 

 is not discouraged by five or six miscarriages ; but 

 attempts it again, till at length he gets it over the 

 verge of his place. Yet he does not leave it there, 

 lest it should roll in again ? but always removes it to a 

 convenient distance. 



When his pit is finished, he buries himself at the 

 bottom of it in the sand, leaving no part above it 

 but the tips of his horns, which he extends to the 

 two sides of (he pit. Thus he waits for his prey. If 

 an ant walk on the edge of bis pit, it throws down 

 a little of the sand. Thl given notice, tu tos tip the 

 sand from his head, on the ant ; of which he throws 

 more and more, till he brings him down to the bot- 

 tom, between his horns. These he then plunges into 

 the ant, and having sucked all the blood, throws 

 out the skin as far as possible. This done, he mounts 

 up the edges of his pit, and if they have suffered any 

 injury, repairs it carefully, llo then immediately bu- 

 ries himself again in the centre, to wait for another 

 meal. 



This creature has no mouth, but it is through its 

 horns that it receives all its nourishment. And as they 

 are so necessary for its life, nature has provided for 

 the restoring them in case of accidents, so that if they 

 are cut oft', they soon grow again. 



When he has lived his stated time, he loaves his 

 pit, and is only seen drawing traces on the sand. 

 After this he buries himself under it, and enclose? him- 

 self in a case. This is made of a sort of silk with 

 grains of sand cemented together by a glutinous hii^ 

 mour which he emits. But this would be t*o harsh 

 for his body, so it serves only for the outward co- 

 vering. He spins within it one of pure, fine, pearl 

 coloured silk, which covers his whole body. 



