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Earthiuorm versus Beetle. By the late James Wood, 

 Galashiels. 



I WAS great!}' interested, one afternoon in July last, to see 

 how adroitly a small black Beetle contrived to get a large 

 Earthworm conveyed across a gravel walk, in my garden, to 

 an opening below the wooden floor of an outhouse. 



The Beetle was evidently perfectly aware of this opening, 

 and the security afforded by the space below the floor, and 

 I have no doubt had occupied the place for some time ; 

 and from thence had made regular outdoor excursions, 

 with motives and objects best known to itself, and on this 

 particular occasion the excursion had resulted in its fore- 

 gathering with the worm. 



The Beetle was one of those very common ones, about an 

 inch long [possibly a Cnrabus'], sharp, active fellows, who 

 seem to do nothing in a hap-hazard fashion, but to have a 

 set purpose in everything they do, and wherever they go. 



The Worm was a large one, over seven inches long, and 

 thick in proportion, certainly from forty to fifty times the 

 weight of its captor ; and as it did not appear quite as 

 vigorous and lively as Worms usually do when coming out 

 of the ground, I strongly suspected that it had been in the 

 "hands" of the Beetle for some time before I saw it; but 

 whether it had shown fight at first, and been ultimately 

 forced to capitulate, I have no means of knowing, although 

 I think it most probable that a prolonged struggle between 

 the two had resulted in the Worm being signally vanquished 

 by its little black-coated antagonist. 



I have watched "The Burying Beetle," with patient per- 

 severance, scooping the earth from below a dead rabbit, in 

 fact digging for it a grave ; preserving it thus for future 

 use, so that as hunger or curiosity prompted, it might return 

 and enjoy its hidden treasure to its heart's content. 



I have seen a Spider, returning from a tour of inspection, 

 carrying home on its back a Fly double its own size, which, 

 as it would not consent to lie still, it had been obliged — 

 contrary to its inclination — to strangle on the way ; for the 

 Spider is not such a fool as to pick up any dead Fly it 

 may chance to meet with in its peregrinations, living prey 

 is what it is on the constant outlook for. 



