The Sacred Beetle: the Modelling 



under the pressure of the feet and Is 

 lengthened into a sack the mouth of which 

 gradually narrows. Up to this point, the 

 work provides Its own explanation. But, 

 when we think of the insect's rigid tools, its 

 broad, toothed fore-arms, whose spasmodic 

 movements remind us of the stiff gestures of 

 an automaton, we are left without any 

 explanation of the exquisite perfection of the 

 cell which is to be the hatching-chamber of 

 the egg. 



With this crude equipment, excellently 

 adapted to pick-axe work though It be, how 

 does the Scarab obtain the natal dwelling, 

 the oval nest so daintily polished and glazed 

 within? Does her foot, a regular saw, fitted 

 with enormous teeth, begin to rival the 

 artist's brush in delicacy from the moment 

 when it is Inserted through the narrow orifice 

 of the sack? Why not? I have said else- 

 where and this is the moment to say it again: 

 the tool does not make the workman. The 

 Insect exercises Its own particular talents with 

 any kind of tool with which it is supplied. 

 It can saw with a plane or plane with a saw, 

 like the model workman of whom Franklin 

 tells us. The same strong-toothed rake 

 which the Sacred Beetle uses to open up the 

 earth she also employs as a trowel and brush 



"7 



