The Spanish Copris: the Eggs 



a generous supply which I am careful to 

 replenish. Cautiously, ready to retreat at 

 the least, alarm, she makes her way to them 

 with a slow and measured step. Her shield 

 does the rummaging and dissecting, her 

 fore-legs are busy extracting. An arm- 

 ful, quite a modest one, is pulled away, 

 crumbling to pieces. The Copris drags it 

 backwards and disappears underground. 

 In less than two minutes, she is back again. 

 With feathery antennae outspread, she 

 warily scans the neighbourhood before cross- 

 ing the threshold of her dwelling. 



A distance of two or three inches separates 

 her from the heap of provisions. It is a 

 serious matter for her to venture so far. 

 She would have liked the victuals to be 

 exactly overhead, forming a roof to her 

 house. That would have saved her from 

 having to make these expeditions, which are 

 a source of anxiety. I have decided other- 

 wise. To facilitate observation, I have 

 placed the supplies just on one side. By 

 degrees the nervous creature is reassured; 

 it becomes accustomed to the open air and 

 to my presence, which, of course, I make as 

 unobtrusive as possible. Armful after arm- 

 ful goes down into the cellar. They are 

 always shapeless bits, shreds such as one 



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