The Sacred Beetle and Others 



gings contain the grub in excellent condition. 

 The protecting sheath has fulfilled its office 

 to perfection: it has preserved the sons from 

 the catastrophe that caused the death of the 

 parents. 



The other cylinders, fashioned In the 

 course of November, contain something even 

 more remarkable. In their hatching-cham- 

 ber, at the bottom, they hold an egg, all 

 plump and shiny and as healthy-looking as 

 though it had been laid that day. Can life 

 still exist there? Is It possible, after the best 

 part of the winter has been passed in a block 

 of Ice? I dare not believe it. The sausage 

 Itself has not an attractive appearance. It is 

 darkened by fermentation, smells musty and 

 does not suggest food worth having. 



At all events, I will take the precaution of 

 bottling the miserable puddings, after ascer- 

 taining that the egg Is there in each case. I 

 was well-advised. The fresh aspect of the 

 germs, after wintering under such rude con- 

 ditions, did not belie them. The hatching 

 was soon effected; and early In May the late 

 arrivals were almost as well-developed as 

 their seniors, hatched In the autumn. 



Some Interesting facts are revealed by this 

 piece of observation. First of all, the laying- 

 period of the Geotrupes is a fairly long one, 



328 



