CHAPTER VIII 



THE SELF-DENIAL OF THE SPANISH COPRIS 



YOU remember, I hope, the Sacred Beetle, who 

 spends her time in making balls, both to 

 serve as food and also to be the foundation 

 of her pear-shaped nest. I pointed out the advantages 

 of this shape for the young Beetles, since the globe is 

 the best form that could be invented to keep their pro- 

 visions from becoming dry and hard. 



After watching this Beetle at work for a long time I 

 began to wonder if I had not perhaps been mistaken in 

 admiring her instinct so greatly. Was it really care 

 for her grubs, I asked myself, that taught her to provide 

 them with the tenderest and most suitable food? It is 

 the trade of the Sacred Beetle to make balls. Is it won- 

 derful that she should continue her ball-making under- 

 ground? A creature built with long curved legs, very 

 useful for rolling balls across the fields, will go on with 

 her favourite occupation wherever she may be, without 

 regard to her grubs. Perhaps the shape of the pear is 

 mere chance. 



To settle this question satisfactorily in my own mind 

 I should need to be shown a Scavenger Beetle who was 



[109] 



