BURYING-BEETLES: EXPERIMENTS 99 



the enclosure, leaving around it, against the circle of 

 stakes, a wide unbroken zone. A few handfuls of maize 

 were scattered in the interior of the trap, as well as round 

 about it, and in particular along the sloping path, which 

 passed under a sort of bridge and led to the center of 

 the contrivance. In short, the Turkey-trap presented an 

 ever-open door. The bird found it in order to enter, but 

 did not think of looking for it in order to return by it. 



According to the famous American ornithologist, the 

 Turkeys, lured by the grains of maize, descended the in- 

 sidious slope, entered the short underground passage and 

 beheld, at the end of it, plunder and the light. A few 

 steps farther and the gluttons emerged, one by one, from 

 beneath the bridge. They distributed themselves about 

 the enclosure. The maize was abundant; and the Tur- 

 keys' crops grew swollen. 



When all was gathered, the band wished to retreat, but 

 not one of the prisoners paid any attention to the central 

 hole by which he had arrived. Gobbling uneasily, they 

 passed again and again across the bridge whose arch was 

 yawning beside them ; they circled round against the pali- 

 sade, treading a hundred times in their own footprints; 

 they thrust their necks, with their crimson wattles, 

 through the bars; and there, with beaks in the open air, 

 they remained until they were exhausted. 



Remember, inept fowl, the occurrences of a little while 

 ago; think of the tunnel which led you hither! If there 

 be in that poor brain of yours an atom of capacity, put 

 two ideas together and remind yourself that the passage 

 by which you entered is there and open for your escape ! 



