A REMARKABLE HISTORY. 87 



by the eating of the bee's egg, and by the passage of 

 the beetle from the male to the female bee. There 

 is an aspect of " biding its time " and of deliberate 

 intent about the whole proceeding which teaches us 

 clearly how a chance habit grows into an all-important 

 phase of life. 



In respect of habit, however, it is the proverbial 

 first step which is the only difficult one. Once inured 

 to a certain way of life, and once appreciating that 

 this way is a safe and easy one, the animal or plant 

 soon adjusts its existence to the new surroundings. 

 This is the reward of changing one's quarters with 

 success, that you come into a more comfortable way 

 of livelihood. The Sitaris beetle evidently mastered 

 this art of change. Its history teaches us that beneath 

 our footsteps, and all unknown to most of us, there 

 are thus ways and works often equalling, if not 

 exceeding, in the accuracy with which means are 

 adjusted to ends, even the most clever artifices of 

 " the paragon of animals " himself. 

 7 



