THE BURYING BEETLE. 77 



buried with it. The male begins by digging a furrow 

 all round the bird, at a distance of about half an 

 inch, turning the earth outside. His head is the 

 only tool used in this operation ; it is held sloping 

 outwards, and is exceedingly powerful. After the 

 first furrow is completed, another is made within it, 

 and the earth is thrown into the first furrow ; then a 

 third furrow is made, which being under the bird, the 

 Beetle is out of sight. Now the operation can only 

 be traced by the heaving of the earth, which soon 

 forms a little rampart round the bird ; as the earth is 

 moved from beneath, and the surrounding rampart 

 increases in height, the bird sinks. After incessant 

 labour for about three hours the Beetle emerges, 

 crawls upon the bird, and takes a survey of his work. 

 If the female is on the bird, she is driven away by 

 the male, who does not choose to be intruded on 

 during the important business. 



' The male Beetle then remains for about an hour 

 perfectly still, does not stir hand or foot ; he then 

 dismounts, diving again into the grave, and pulls the 

 bird down by the feathers for half an hour. Its own 

 weight appears to sink it but very little. The earth 

 then begins heaving and rising all round, as though 

 under the influence of a little earthquake ; the feathers 

 of the bird are again pulled, and again the bird de- 

 scends. At last, after two or three hours' more labour, 

 the Beetle comes up again, gets on the bird, and again 

 takes a survey, and then drops down as though dead, or 

 fallen suddenly fast asleep. When sufficiently rested, 

 he rouses himself, treads the bird firmly into its grave, 

 pulls it by the feathers this way and that way, and, 



