The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1886-10-20
SEXTON BEETLES.
The Perfect Way In Which the Industri-
Gus Little Insects Do Their Work.

The Perfect Way in which the Industri-
Gus 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 dress, it is
not safe to handle the insect, on &C.
count Of 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 rapidly, and when one is
not equal to the task, others will take
q 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 a plowed field, saw one of
these beetles burying the body of a
"chlppy,'' and stopped to watch the
progress of the work. One furrow had
been dug around the bird, about half
an inch distant Master Beetle was
just commencing another inside of this
when stopped to watch the process.
This workwas performed with the jaws
and the head, and in thoroughly
workmanlike manner. After a while
the creature was lost to sight, but |
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
mined. 1t was plain now that this
earth which had been dug into burrows
was to be used in covering the bird
when he should have scooped out q
hole large'senough to hold the little
body. This process had taken nearly
three hours, and it was now long past
sunset I was anxious to stay and
watch the completion of the work, but
that was inaccessible.
In talking the matter over with q
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
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 broad head for q
shovel, pile the dirt on top of the tiny
carcass.
The next thing in order is to call
back the female beetle and make =
hole for her in the still loose earth.
The male crawls in after her, and when
the female has laid her eggs and the
pair have eaten all they can hold Of
their new provender, they emerge and
hy away to .'fresh fields and pastures
new"
"A dozen beetles will bury q good
sized rabbit in few hours" my friend
informed me, land dead rat which
they consider the greatest of all lux
uries, l have seen most speedily Gov
cred up by half that number. "-Eiedno'
Ark. in Congregationalist.