The Glow-Worm and Other Beetles 



in. They are received without strife but also 

 without gratitude. They are not summoned ; 

 they are tolerated. 



In the glazed shelter where I keep the 

 cage I happened to catch one of these chance 

 assistants in the act. Passing that way in 

 the night and scenting dead flesh, he had en- 

 tered where none of his kind had yet pene- 

 trated of his own accord. I surprised him 

 on the dome of the cover. If the wire had 

 not prevented him, he would have set to work 

 incontinently, in company with the rest. 

 Had my captives invited this one? As- 

 suredly not. Heedless of others' efforts, he 

 hastened up, attracted by the odour of the 

 Mole. So it was with those whose obliging 

 assistance is extolled. I repeat, in respect 

 of their imaginary prowess, what I have 

 said elsewhere of the Sacred Beetle's: it is 

 a child's story, worthy to rank with any fairy- 

 tale for the amusement of the simple. 



A hard soil, necessitating the removal of 

 the body, is not the only difficulty with which 

 the Necrophori are acquainted. Frequently, 

 perhaps more often than not, the ground is 

 covered with grass, above all with couch- 

 grass, whose tenacious rootlets form an in- 

 extricable network below the surface. To 

 dig in the interstices is possible, but to drag 

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