The Sacred Beetle and Others 



Come, ye divers who fathom Hfe's mysteries, 

 descend a httle further into the depths and at 

 least bring us back that humble pearl, the 

 reply to the problems of the Geotrupes and 

 the Sacred Beetle ! 



When the weather is severe, what becomes 

 of the larva in the retreat which it has suc- 

 ceeded in making at the lower end of its box? 

 The exceptional cold of January and Feb- 

 ruary 1895 will answer this question. My 

 cages, always left in the open air, had repeat- 

 edly undergone a drop in temperature of 

 some ten degrees below freezing-point. In 

 this arctic weather, I conceived a wish to go 

 in search of information and learn how things 

 were progressing in my unprotected cages. 



I could not manage it. The bed of earth, 

 wetted by the earlier rains, had become a 

 compact block throughout, which I should 

 have had to break up like a stone with a 

 hammer and chisel. Extraction by violent 

 means was not practicable: I should have en- 

 dangered everything with my hammering. 

 On the other hand, if any life remained in the 

 frozen mass, I should have placed it in jeo- 

 pardy by changing the temperature too sud- 

 denly. It was better to await the very slow 

 natural thaw. 



Early in March I inspect the cages again. 



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