The Sacred Beetle and Others 



craftsmanship, skilled In the modelling of 

 pears, gourds, balls and ovoids. Once 

 again, be careful how you judge animals, 

 any more than men, by appearances. The 

 structure gives us no idea of the insect's all- 

 round ability. 



I surprise the couple at the cross-roads 

 ■where the five ^bhnd-alleys, the sausages, 

 start. The Intrusion of the hght has 

 frightened them Into Immobility. Before 

 the disturbance caused by my excavations, 

 what were the two faithful partners doing 

 at this spot? They were watching over the 

 five cells, ramming down the last column of 

 provisions, completing It with new contribu- 

 tions of material, brought down from above 

 and taken from the heap that forms a cover 

 to the shaft. They were perhaps preparing 

 to dig a sixth chamber, if not more, and to 

 stock it like the others. I realize at any 

 rate that there must be many ascents from the 

 bottom of the pit to the rich warehouse on 

 the surface, whence the bundles of material 

 are carried down In the legs of the one to be 

 methodically pressed on top of the egg by the 

 other. 



The shaft indeed is open throughout its 

 length. Moreover, to prevent the crumb- 

 ling of the walls which would result from 



2>72 



