BUEEOWING BEETLES. 153 



The burrow is made by the larva, and not by the parent, and 

 is a work of some little time, the earth being loosened by means 

 of the feet and jaws, and then carried to the surface on the 

 flattened head. 



Other beetles are in the habit of driving deep tunnels into 

 the ground, wherein may be deposited the eggs which are 

 destined to produce a fresh brood in the ensuing season. Our 

 own country can boast of possessing many such beetles, but 

 in the hotter parts of the world their number is quite won- 

 derful. 



Our first example will be the well-known Sexton, or Bueying 

 Beetles, some of which may be seen at work at the left hand of the 

 plate, busily engaged in burying the dead bird. There are several 

 species of Burying Beetles ; but as their habits are very similar, 

 they need not be separately described. Any one who wishes to 

 see them at work may do so by taking a dead mouse, bird, or 

 piece of meat, and laying it on a soft spot of ground. I. was 

 about to add the frog to the number of objects for sepulture, but 

 have omitted that creature because the porous nature of its skin 

 causes it to dry up so rapidly, that the beetle will seldom take 

 the trouble of burying it. 



Sometimes, but very rarely, a pair of the beetles will come to 

 the bait by daylight, their wide wings bearing them along with 

 great speed ; but in general they prefer night as the time to begin 

 their work. If the bird be visited in the early morning, it wiU 

 be no longer upon the surface of the ground, but will be halt 

 sunken below it, as though the earth had given way, just as 

 a piece of dark cloth sinks into snow. If, however, the bird be 

 removed, the cause of its gradual disappearance will be seen in 

 the form of one or two beetles, sometimes black, and sometimes 

 beautifully barred -with orange. Then let the bird be replaced, 

 and a trowel carefully introduced under it, so that the bird 

 and beetles can be gently transferred to a vessel of earth and 

 covered with a glass shade. 



During the day, the beetles will mostly remain quiet ; but in 

 the evening they begin to be active. To dig a hole, and then to 

 drag the bird into it, would be a task far beyond their powers, 

 and they therefore employ another plan. They entirely burrow 

 beneath the bird, emerging every now and then to scrape out 



