GRAVE-DIGGING BEETLE. 
275 
wings, or its feet ; and whenever these movements 
occurred, the beetles might be seen attempting to 
drag the body by its feathers into the grave, which 
was now nearly completed. After they had been 
full two hours at this work, the male beetle drove 
his mate away, and would by no means suffer her 
to return to her employment, though she frequently 
attempted it ; for whenever she stirred from her hole 
he directly sent her back again. 
It appears that the male continued to work by 
himself for at least five hours, m which time he re- 
moved an astonishing quantity of earth: — but if our 
observer was surprised at this instance of his 
strength, he was more so when he saw this diminu- 
tive creature stiffen his collar, and, by an extra- 
ordinary exertion of his powers, lift up the bird, 
make it change its place, and in some measure 
arrange it in the spacious grave which he had pre- 
pared for its reception. Every now and then the 
beetle mounted upon the body and appeared to 
tread it down, then again renewed his efforts, and 
drew it a little further into the earth till it was sunk 
to a considerable depth. All this could not be done 
without fatigue; the insect was indefatigable; his la- 
bour was immense ; he appeared completely spent ; 
and after having rested his head upon the earth for 
near an hour, he left the place, and retired under 
ground. 
The next morning, when Mr. Gleditsch visited the 
body, he found it entirely buried to the depth of two 
T 2 
