The Glow-Worm and Other Beetles 



loses any far-reaching significance. Before 

 attacking the strap, which was not concealed 

 in any way, the insect exerted itself for a 

 whole morning in shaking the body, its usual 

 method. In the end, finding the cord, it 

 broke it, as it would have broken a thread 

 of couch-grass encountered underground. 



Under the conditions devised for the 

 Beetle, the use of the shears is the indis- 

 pensable complement of the use of the shovel ; 

 and the modicum of discernment at his dis- 

 posal is enough to inform him when it will 

 be well to employ the clippers. He cuts 

 what embarrasses him, with no more exer- 

 cise of reason than he displays when lower- 

 ing his dead Mouse underground. So little 

 does he grasp the relation of cause and effect 

 that he tries to break the bone of the leg be- 

 fore biting the raffia which is knotted close 

 beside him. The difficult task is attempted 

 before the extremely easy one. 



Difficult, yes, but not impossible, provided 

 that the Mouse be young. I begin over 

 again with a strip of iron wire, on which the 

 insect's shears cannot get a grip, and a ten- 

 der Mousekin, half the size of an adult. 

 This time a tibia is gnawed through, sawed 

 in two by the Beetle's mandibles, near the 

 spring of the heel. The detached leg leaves 

 340 



