THE SEXTON-BEETLE. 221 



beefles stand almost on their heads, with their heads turned 

 from the balls. These manoeuvres have for their object the 

 burying of the balls in deep holes, which the insects have pre- 

 viously dug for their reception, and it is upon the dung thus 

 deposited that the larvae when hatched feed. 



Sheltered from the frosts of winter in their subterraneous re- 

 treats, they lead a life of darkness in the midst of the abundance 

 which the labours of their parents have stored 

 up for their use ; but as soon as warm spring 

 knocks as it were at their door, to invite them to 

 exchange their gloomy abodes for the light of day ? 

 they eagerly creep forth in a more perfect form 

 to enjoy the cheerful rays of the sun, and to labour 

 in their turn for the wants of a new generation. 



Sacred Beetle. 



On account of this provident care for its young, CAteuchua sacer.) 

 the ' Ateuchus sacer' was revered by the ancient Egyptians as 

 one of their sacred animals, and its image, carved in stone or 

 metal, is frequently found rolled up in the mummies of that 

 remarkable race. 



The necrophori, or sexton-beetles, inter in a similar manner 

 the bodies of small animals in which they lay their eggs. 

 During the day they are generally quiet, 

 but in the evening they begin to be 

 active. To dig a hole, and then to drag 

 the bird or mouse they may have selected 

 as the object of their labours into it, 

 would be a task far beyond their powers, 

 and they therefore employ another plan. 

 They entirely burrow beneath the car- 

 case, emerging every now and then to Necrophorua 

 scrape out the loose soil, walk round it, 



mount as if to see how the work is proceeding, and then dis- 

 appear afresh and renew their labours until the hole is large 

 enough to allow the bird to sink into the required position. 

 The time occupied in the transaction naturally varies according 

 to the size of the object, the number of the labourers, and 

 the nature of the soil ; but, on an average, an ordinary finch or 

 a mouse can be buried in the course of a day. When the task 

 is completed, a number of eggs are laid upon the buried animal, 

 and then the beetles emerge, cover it with earth, and fly away. 



