48 GRAMMAR OF ENTOMOLOGY. 



also, and the bird undergoes the scrutiny of four, 

 at least, of the senses, touch, smell, sight, and 

 taste, for their heads are continually diving 

 among the feathers of the bird, and a savoury and 

 ample meal is made before the great work is 

 begun. 



148. After the beetles have appeased the calls 

 of hunger, the bird is abandoned for a while ; 

 they both leave it to explore the earth in the 

 neighbourhood, and ascertain whether there is a 

 place suitable for interment : if on a ploughed 

 field, there is no difficulty ; but if on grass, or 

 among stones, much labour is required to draw 

 it to a more suitable place. 



149. The operation of burying is performed 

 almost entirely by the male beetle, the female 

 mostly hiding herself in the body of the bird 

 about to be buried, or sitting quietly upon it, 

 and allowing herself to be buried with it : the male 

 begins by digging a furrow all round the bird, at 

 the distance of about half an inch, turning the 

 earth outside ; his head is the only tool used in 

 this operation ; it is held sloping outwards, and is 

 exceedingly powerful. 



1 50. After the first furrow is completed, another 

 is made within it, and the earth is thrown into 

 the first furrow : then a third furrow is made, 

 which, being under the bird, the beetle is out of 

 sight : now the operation can only be traced by 

 the heaving of the earth, which soon forms a 



