The Glow- Worm and Other Beetles 



simultaneously in the day's work: the ma- 

 jority remain underground, dozing or occu- 

 pied in setting their cellars in order. Some- 

 times only one, often two, three or four, 

 rarely more, busy themselves with the corpse 

 which I offer them. To-day, two hasten to 

 the Mouse, who is soon perceived overhead 

 on the tuft of thyme. 



They gain the top of the plant by way 

 of the trelliswork of the cage. Here are re- 

 peated, with increased hesitation, due to the 

 inconvenient nature of the support, the tac- 

 tics employed to remove the body when the 

 soil is unfavourable. The insect props itself 

 against a branch, thrusting alternately with 

 back and claws, jerking and shaking vigor- 

 ously until the point whereat it is working 

 is freed from its fetters. In one brief shift, 

 by dint of heaving their backs, the two col- 

 laborators extricate the body from the tan- 

 gle. Yet another shake; and the Mouse is 

 down. The burial follows. 



There is nothing new in this experiment: 

 the find has been treated just as though it lay 

 on soil unsuitable for burial. The fall is 

 the result of an attempt to transport the 

 load. 



The time has come to set up the Frog's 

 gibbet made famous by Gleditsch. The ba- 



334 



