CHAPTER XIII 



THE GEOTRUPES: NEST-BUILDING 



IN September and October, when the nrst 

 autumn rains soak the ground and allow 

 the Sacred Beetle to split his natal casket, the 

 Stercoraceous Geotrupes and the Mimic Geo- 

 trupes found their family-establishments: 

 somewhat makeshift establishments, in spite 

 of what we might have expected from the 

 name of these miners, so well styled earth- 

 borers. When he has to dig himself a re- 

 treat that shall shelter him against the rig- 

 ours of winter, the Geotrupes really deserves 

 his name: none can compare with him for 

 the depth of the pit or the perfection and 

 rapidity of the work. In sandy ground, 

 easily excavated, I have dug up some that 

 were buried over a yard deep. Others 

 carried their digging further still, tiring both 

 my patience and my implements. There 

 you have the skilled well-sinker, the inimi- 

 table earth-borer. When the cold sets in, he 

 will be able to descend to some stratum where 



the frost has lost Its terrors. 



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