82 THE LIFE AND LOVE OF THE INSECT 



exception of the parts touching the glass, are covered 

 with a crust of sand. 



The manner of procedure explains this uncouth ex- 

 terior. As laying-time draws nigh, the Onthophagus 

 bores a cylindrical pit and descends underground to a 

 middling depth. Here, working with the shield, the 

 chine and the fore-legs, which are toothed like a rake, 

 he forces back and heaps around him the materials which 

 he has moved, so as to obtain as best he may a nest of 

 suitable size. 



The next thing is to cement the crumbling walls of 

 the cavity. The insect climbs back to the surface by 

 way of its pit ; it gathers on its threshold an armful of 

 mortar taken from the cake whereunder it has elected 

 to set up house ; it goes down again with its burden, which 

 it spreads and presses upon the sandy wall. Thus it 

 produces a concrete casing, the flint of which is supplied 

 by the wall itself and the cement by the produce of the 

 sheep. After a few trips and repeated strokes of the 

 trowel, the pit is plastered on every side ; the walls, 

 encrusted with grains of sand, are no longer liable to 

 give way. 



The cabin is ready : it now wants only a tenant and 

 stores. First, a large free space is contrived at the 

 bottom : the hatching-chamber, on whose inner wall the 

 egg is laid. Next comes the gathering of the provisions 

 intended for the worm, a gathering made with nice pre- 

 cautions. Lately, when building, the insect worked upon 

 the outside of the doughy mass and took no notice of 

 the earthy blemishes. Now, it penetrates to the very 

 centre of the lump, through a gallery that looks as though 

 it were contrived with a punch. When trying a cheese, 

 the buyer employs a hollow cylindrical taster, which he 



