HISTORY OF INSECTS. 49 



little rampart round the bird ; as the earth is 

 moved from beneath, and the surrounding ram- 

 part increases in height, the bird sinks. After 

 incessant labour for about three hours, the beetle 

 emerges, crawls upon the bird, and takes a survey 

 of his work. 



151. If the female is on the bird, she is driven 

 away by the male, who does not choose to be 

 intruded on during the important business. The 

 male beetle then remains for about an hour per- 

 fectly still, does not stir hand or foot ; he then 

 dismounts, diving again into the grave, and pulls 

 the bird down by the feathers, for half an hour: 

 its own weight appears to sink it but very little. 



152. The earth then begins heaving and rising 

 all round, as though under the influence of a little 

 earthquake : the feathers of the bird are again 

 pulled, and again the bird descends. At last, after 

 two or three hours' more labour, the beetle comes 

 up, again gets on the bird, and again takes a 

 survey, and then drops down, as though dead, 

 or fallen suddenly fast asleep. 



153. When sufficiently rested, he rouses himself, 

 treads the bird firmly into its grave, pulls it by 

 the feathers this way and that way, and, having 

 settled it to his mind, begins to shovel in the 

 earth : this is done in a very short time, by means 

 of his broad head. He goes behind the rampart of 

 earth, and pushes it into the grave with amazing 

 strength and dexterity ; the head being bent 



