PROVISION FOR REARING THE YOUNG. 



123 



lay on the buried mammal ; then they retire, satisfied 

 to leave their 

 little ones, when 

 they appear, face 

 to face with 

 such abundant 

 nourishment. 

 When they 

 emerge from the 

 envelope the 

 young larvae 

 find themselves 

 in the presence 

 of this stored 

 food, which has 

 been softened 

 by putrefaction 

 and rendered 

 more easy of ' 

 digestion. If the 

 treasure has not 

 fallen on a spot 

 easy to dig, the 

 N ecrophortcs 

 quickly recog- 

 nise the fact, and 

 do not waste 

 time in useless 

 labour. En- 

 dowed with 

 considerable 

 strength rela- 

 tively to their 

 size, three or four of them creep beneath the prey, 



