The Arizona sentinel., 1886-10-23
SEXTON BEETLES.
The Perfect Way in Which the Industri-
 ous Little Insects Do Their Work.

The Perfect Way in Which the Industri-
 ous Little Insects Do Their Work.
 In the whole insect kingdom there is
 nothing much more wonderful than
 the intelligent work performed by the
 burying beetle. These small and pro- digiously-Strong creatures are about an inch long. They are black, with two
 bands across the back of bright orange color, and two spots of this color on each of the wings. Although in so gay and attractive a dress, it is nut safe to handle the insect, on ac- count of a fetid odor that constantly emanates from it, and which soap, wa ter, alkalies and strong perfumeries are powerless to remove.
 These busy creatures will bury birds. frogs, rabbits and pieces of meat with the greatest rapidity, and when one is not equal to the task, others will take share in the work. One beetle can bury bird in two or three hours, and so perfectly as to leave no trace of what has been going on. This job is always performed by the male, the fe- male sitting placidly on the object about to be buried, up to. a certain stage of proceedings, when the male prefers to be alone. She waits to be driven off by her master, however, who never fails at the proper moment to at tack her with force.
 One afternoon last summer the writer. in crossing plowed field, saw one of these beetles burying the body of a "ch1ppy," and stopped to watch the progress of the work. Che furrow had been dug around the bird, about half an inch distant Master Beetle was just commencing another inside of this when I stopped to watch the process. This workwas performed with the jaws and the head, and in a thoroughly workmanlike manner. After a while the creature was lost to sight, but I soon discovered that he had not by any means abandoned the job. The bird began to sway and settle, proving that the foundations were being under mlned. It was plain now that this earth which had been dug into furrows was to be used in covering the bird when he should have scooped out a hole large enough. to hold the little body. This process had taken nearly three hours, and it was now long past sunset. 1 was anxious to stay and watch the completion of the work, but that was impossible.
 In talking the matter over with distinguished entomologist, was told that the next thing on the programme would have been the pulling of the bird downward by the feathers, and this would have occupied half an hour or more. Then the beetle would take a long rest. After this he would tread the bird firmly into its grave. pulling it by its feathers this way and that, and then. using his<Aroad head for a shovel, pile the,dirton top of the tiny carcass.
 The next thing in order is to call back the~female beetle and make a hole for%her in the still loose earth. The male cEawls in afterhe and when the female has laid her eggs and the pair have eaten all they can hold of their new provender, they emerge and fly away to 'fresh fields and pastures new"
 "A dozen beetles will bury good . sized rabbit in few hours," my friend me, land dead rat. which hey consider the greatest of all lux uries, have seen most speedily GOV ,red up by half that number. ."-Eteanor Kirk, tr1 COngregationatiSt.