The Burying-Beetles: Experiments 



insects that work in earth would have done 

 as much if subjected to similar conditions. 



Let us ascend a stage in the series of dif- 

 ficulties. The Mole is now fixed by a strap 

 of raffia fore and aft to a light horizontal 

 cross-bar resting on two firmly-planted forks. 

 It is like a joint of venison on the spit, ec- 

 centrically fastened. The dead animal 

 touches the ground throughout the length of 

 its body. 



The Necrophori disappear under the 

 corpse and, feeling the contact of its fur, 

 begin to dig. The grave grows deeper and 

 an empty space appears; but the coveted ob- 

 ject does not descend, retained as it is by the 

 cross-bar which the two forks keep in place. 

 The digging slackens, the hesitations become 

 prolonged. 



However, one of the grave-diggers climbs 

 to the surface, wanders over the Mole, in- 

 spects him and ends by perceiving the strap 

 at the back. He gnaws and ravels it tena- 

 ciously. I hear the click of the shears that 

 completes the rupture. Crack! The thing 

 is done. Dragged down by his own weight, 

 the Mole sinks into the grave, but slant- 

 wise, with his head still outside, kept in place 

 by the second strap. 



The Beetles proceed with the burial of the 



