The Burying-Beetles: Experiments 



the point recognized as favourable. Have 

 we done the trick this time? No, for after 

 a while the Mouse recoils. There is no 

 progress towards a solution of the difficulty. 



Now two males come out in search of in- 

 formation, each of his own accord. Instead 

 of stopping at the point already sounded, a 

 point most judiciously chosen, it seemed, on 

 account of its proximity, which would save 

 laborious carting, they precipitately scour the 

 whole area of the cage, trying the soil on 

 this side and on that and ploughing super- 

 ficial furrows in it. They get as far from 

 the brick as the limits of the enclosure per- 

 mit. 



They dig, by preference, against the base 

 of the cover; here they make several bor- 

 ings, without any reason, so far as I can see, 

 the bed of soil being everywhere equally as- 

 sailable away from the brick; the first point 

 sounded is abandoned for a second, which 

 is rejected in its turn. A third and fourth 

 are tried; then another. At the sixth point 

 the choice is made. In all these cases the 

 excavation is by no means a grave destined 

 to receive the Mouse, but a mere trial bor- 

 ing, of inconsiderable depth and of the di- 

 ameter of the digger's body. 



Back again to the Mouse, who suddenly 

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