Author's Preface 



dally bread failed. Moreover, the stringy 

 manna failing from the Horse and the Mule 

 is hardly suited to the mother's work, as I 

 learnt afterwards. Something more homo- 

 geneous, more plastic is needed; and this only 

 the Sheep's somewhat laxer bowels are able 

 to supply. 



In short, though my earlier studies taught 

 me all about the Scarab's public manners, 

 for several reasons they told me nothing of 

 his private habits. The nest-building pro- 

 blem remained as obscure as ever. Its solu- 

 tion demands a good deal more than the 

 straitened resources of a town and the 

 scientific equipment of a laboratory. It re- 

 quires prolonged residence in the country; it 

 requires the proximity of flocks and herds in 

 the bright sunshine. Given these conditions, 

 success is assured, provided that one have 

 zeal and perseverance; and these conditions 

 I find to perfection in my quiet village. 



Provisions, my great difficulty In the old 

 days, are now to be had for the asking. 

 Close to my house, Mules pass along the 

 high-road, on their way to the fields and 

 back again; morning and evening, flocks of 

 Sheep go by, making for the pasture or the 

 fold ; not five yards from my door, my 

 neighbour's Goat is tethered: I can hear her 



xiv 



