The Sacred Beetle and Others 



patiently rounded and grouped at the bottom 

 of the pot. And all the time, so that he may 

 not disturb the mother in her work, the father 

 remains exiled from the gynaeceum. He 

 has gone up to the surface with the intention 

 of leaving and digging himself a shelter else- 

 where. Being unable to do so within the 

 narrow confines of the pot, he stays at the 

 top, barely concealed from view by a modi- 

 cunT of sand or a few scraps of food. A 

 lover of darkness and of the cool under- 

 ground depths, he remains obstinately for 

 three months exposed to the air and drought 

 and light; he refuses to go to earth, lest he 

 should interfere with the sacred things that 

 are taking place below. The Copris shall 

 have a good mark for thus respecting the 

 maternal apartments. 



Let us come back to the jars, where the 

 events hidden from us by the soil are to be 

 enacted before our eyes. The three or four 

 pills, each with its egg, stand one against an- 

 other and occupy almost the whole enclosure, 

 leaving only narrow passages. Of the 

 original lump very little remains, at the most 

 a few crumbs, which come in handy when 

 appetite returns. But that does not worry 

 the mother much. She is far more con- 

 cerned about her ovoids. 



202 



