The Geotrupes: Nest-building 



The father takes just as much part as the 

 mother in the building of the nest, the quest 

 for provisions, the distribution of each mouth- 

 ful and the supervision of the youngsters as 

 they try their wings preliminary to their first 

 flight. 



Standing still higher in the animal scale, 

 the mammal carries on the wonderful exam- 

 ple without adding to it; on the contrary, it 

 often simpHfies things. Man remains and 

 has no prouder title to nobility than his un- 

 wearying care for the family, that alliance 

 which is never dissolved. To our shame, I 

 admit, a few individuals deny their re- 

 sponsibility and sink below the level of the 

 Toad. 



The Geotrupes rivals the bird. The nest 

 is the joint production of husband and wife. 

 The father puts the various layers together 

 and compresses them; the mother plasters 

 the walls, fetches fresh loads and places them 

 under the presser's feet. This home, the out- 

 come of the couple's efforts, is also a store- 

 house of provisions. Here we see no mouth- 

 fuls distributed to the children from day to 

 day, but the food-problem is solved none the 

 less : the united labours of the two partners 

 result in the sumptuous sausage. Father and 

 mother have done their duty splendidly; they 



313 



