TILLERS OF THE SOIL. 
83 
offered roomy quarters to a mouse. I bottled it and 
brought it home, and it is before me now. Its head 
and front parts are black and not smooth, but finely 
grained, while its elytra, or wing cases, are of a shining 
maroon colour. Its head is quite flat and serves it for 
a spade, while its fore-arm is much flattened too, and 
furnished on one side with three great teeth, so that it 
forms a pick and 
shovel in one. Its 
curious antennae 
are tucked away 
under the head 
shield, and its 
eyes are, so to 
speak, behind 
the shoulder of 
the spade, out of the way of harm. When it digs, 
the stout fore-arms work sideways, tearing up the hard 
ground ; then the spade is thrust in and lifts the 
loosened soil. Its hind legs are flattened too and serve 
to shovel the earth away behind it. Some of the family 
have an upright horn on the head or nose. This is, 
without doubt, an example of “ protective mimicry.” 
G 2 
