The Spanish Copris: the Mother 



of its pills because it is unable to go else- 

 where. I agree; but there remains that 

 work of polishing and of continual inspection 

 about which the mother need not trouble at 

 all if these cares did not form part of her 

 habits. Were she solely anxious to recover 

 her liberty, she ought to be roaming rest- 

 lessly all round the enclosure, whereas I 

 always see her very quiet and absorbed. 

 The only evidence of her excitement, when 

 the raising of the cardboard cylinder sud- 

 denly produces daylight, is that she lets her- 

 self slide from the top of a pill and hides 

 in the heap. If I moderate the light, com- 

 posure is soon restored and she resumes her 

 position on the summit, there to continue the 

 work which my visit interrupted. 



For the rest, the evidence of the apparatus 

 that is always in darkness Is conclusive. 

 The mother buried herself in June in the 

 sand of my pots with copious provisions, 

 which are soon converted into a certain 

 number of pills. She is at liberty to return 

 to the surface when she pleases. She will 

 there find broad daylight under the big sheet 

 of glass which ensures me against her escape; 

 she will find food, which I renew from time 

 to time in order to entice her. 



Well, neither the daylight nor the food, 



241 



