128 THEIR MODE OF BURYING A BIRD. 
are almost sure to be males and females, in equal num- 
bers : tbey hunt by scent only, the chase bemg mostly 
performed when no other sense would be very available, 
viz., in the night. When they have found a bird, great 
comfort is expressed by the male, who wheels round and 
round above it, like an eagle, — the female settles on it at 
once, without this testimonial of satisfaction ; the male at 
last settles also, and the bird undergoes the scrutiny of 
four, at least, of the senses, — touch, smell, sight, and taste, 
— for their heads are continually diving among the feathers 
of the bird, and a savoury and ample meal is made before 
the great work is begun. After the beetles have appeased 
the calls of hunger, the bird is abandoned for a while ; 
they both leave it to explore the earth in the neighbour- 
hood, and ascertain whether the place is suitable for inter- 
ment : if on a ploughed field, there is no difficulty ; but if 
on grass, or^among stones, much labour is required to draw 
the body to a more suitable place. The operation of bu- 
rying is performed almost entirely by the male beetle, the 
female mostly hiding herself in the body of the bird about 
to be buried, or sitting quietly upon it, and allowing her- 
self to be buried with it : the male begins by digging a 
furrow all round the bird, at the distance of about half an 
inch, turning the earth outside ; his head is the only tool 
used in this operation ; it is held sloping outwards, and is 
exceedingly powerful. After the first furrow is completed, 
another is made within it, and the earth is thrown into the 
first furrow : then a third furrow is made, which, being 
under the bird, the beetle is out of sight : now the opera- 
tion can only be traced by the heaving of the earth, whicli 
soon forms a httle rampart round the bird ; as the earth is 
moved from beneath, and the surrounding rampart in- 
