SELF-DENIAL OF THE SPANISH COPRIS 77 



The poor creature was at first a little nervous in captivity, 

 and when she had made her burrow was very cautious about 

 entering it. By degrees, however, she was reassured, and in 

 a single night she stored a supply of the food I had provided 

 for her. 



Before a week was out I dug up the soil in my insect- 

 house, and brought to light the burrow I had seen her storing 

 with provisions. It was a spacious hall, with an irregular 

 roof and an almost level floor. In a corner was a round 

 hole leading to a slanting gallery, which ran up to the surface 

 of the soil. The walls of this dwelling, which was hollowed 

 out of fresh earth, had been carefully compressed, and were 

 strong enough to resist the earthquake caused by my experi- 

 ments. It was easy to see that the insect had put forth all 

 her skill, all her digging-powers, in the making of this per- 

 manent home, whereas her own dining-room had been a mere 

 cave, with walls that were none too safe. 



I suspect she is helped, in the building of this architectural 

 masterpiece, by her mate : at least I often see him with her 

 in the burrows. I also believe that he lends his partner a 

 hand with the collecting and storing of the provisions. It is 

 a quicker job when there are two to work. But once the 

 home is well stocked he retires : he makes his way back to 

 the surface and settles down elsewhere. His part in the 

 family mansion is ended. 



Now what do I find in this mansion, into which I have 

 seen so many tiny loads of provisions lowered ? A mass of 

 small pieces, heaped together anyhow ? Not a bit of it. I 

 always find a simple lump, a huge mass which fills the dwelling 

 except for a narrow passage. 



This lump has no fixed shape. I come across some that 

 are like a Turkey's egg in form and size ; some the shape of 

 a common onion ; I find some that are almost round, and 

 remind me of a Dutch cheese ; I see some that are circular, 

 with a slight swelling on the upper surface. In every case 

 the surface is smooth and nicely curved. 



