The Sloe-Weevil 
ness, without interfering with any other part. 
Now let us see what happens. When the 
time comes for the emergence, with the first 
autumn rains, let us break open the pills. 
They contain nothing but shrivelled corpses. 
An egg is killed if you varnish it: when 
placed under the sitting Hen it remains a 
lifeless pebble. The chicken has died in the 
germ. So perish the Sacred Beetle, the 
Copris and the rest when we varnish the 
circular disk of felt which acts as a ventilator. 
This method of the porous plug is re- 
cognized as being so efficacious that it is in 
general use among the pill-makers of the 
remotest regions. The Splendid Phaneus 
and Bolbites onitoides, both from Buenos 
Aires,’ employ it as zealously as the Dung- 
Beetles of Provence. 
One of the dwellers in the pampas uses 
another process, prescribed by the material 
which she manipulates. This is Phaneus 
Milon, a ceramic artist and meat-packer. 
With very fine clay she fashions a gourd in 
the middle of which she places a round meat- 
1For both these Beetles and also for the next insect 
mentioned in the text, Phanawus Milon, cf. The Glow- 
worm and Other Beetles: chap. ix.—Translator’s Note. 
225 
