The Sacred Beetle and Others 



Half-filled with fresh sand and supplied in 

 addition with provisions obtained from the 

 Sheep's pastry-shop, each jar receives its 

 share of Onthophagi, of separate species and 

 with both sexes present. When the glass 

 houses are used up and the population be- 

 comes too dense, I resort to ordinary 

 flower-pots, furnished according to rule and 

 closed with a pane of glass. The whole 

 collection is arranged on my large labora- 

 tory-table. My captives are satisfied with 

 their installation, which provides them with 

 a mild temperature, a nicely-shaded light and 

 first-class fare. 



What more is needed to complete the 

 Dung-beetles' happiness? Nothing but the 

 raptures of pairing. They indulge in these 

 freely. Interned in the second half of May, 

 with not a thought to the new state of things 

 which put3 a stop to their frolics among the 

 thyme, eagerly they seek one another out, 

 make their overtures and group themselves 

 in couples. 



This is an excellent occasion to find the 

 reply to a primary question: do the Ontho- 

 phagus father and mother work in con- 

 junction when looking after the brood; have 

 they a permanent household, similar to that 

 which we have seen in the Geotrupes, the 



382 



