Onthophagi and Oniticelli 



nest-building materials what the Sacred 

 Beetles and the Copres prefer, the Sheep's 

 plastic paste. Caught at the moment when 

 she was about to lay, goaded by the ir- 

 resistible needs of her ovaries, the mother 

 lends herself very obligingly to my wishes. 

 She lays four eggs in three days. This 

 rapidity, which would doubtless be even 

 greater if my curiosity had not disturbed her 

 in her task, is explained by the simplicity of 

 the vv^ork. 



.The mother goes to the lower surface of 

 the stuff which I have supplied and detaches 

 from the central and softest part a slice 

 sufficient for her plans, removing it all in one 

 piece, by means of a circular section. It is 

 the same method as that employed by the 

 Copris taking from her loaf the wherewithal 

 to make a pellet. There is a pit immediately 

 below, dug in advance. The Oniticellus 

 goes down it with her burden, 



I wait half an hour, to give the work time 

 to take shape, and then turn the glass upside 

 down, hoping to surprise the mother in her 

 domestic business. The original little lump 

 is now a bag moulded by pressure against the 

 sides of the well. The mother is at the 

 bottom, motionless, bewildered by my dis- 

 turbing visit and the intrusion of light. [To 



255 



