olling, but occasionally the
tumble-ball thus started, and out of the control of her spouse at the
rear, may roll over and over for a long-distance, but never alone. No
amount of demoralization of this sort ever surprises her into losing her
grip on her precious globular bundle. When at last it fetches up against
a stone or stick, and she assures herself that she and her charge are
safe and sound, no doubt she immediately mounts to its crest to signal
the lone Mr. T. afar off, who is quickly back of her again, and both are
promptly off on a fresh journey. And so they keep it up, apparently for
sport, perhaps for an hour.

At length when they have played long enough--for there is no other
reason apparent to _homo sapiens_--they decide to plant their big dirty
pellet. The place which they have chosen is not half as promising as
many they have passed, but that doesn't seem to matter. Mrs. T. has
said, "It shall go here," and that ends it.

Then follows the most singular exhibition of excavation and burial. The
ball is now resting quietly on the dirt, and the two beetles are
apparently rummaging around beneath it, trying the ground with the sharp
edge of their shovel-shaped faces. And now, to avoid confusion, we will
dismiss Mr. T., and confine our observation strictly to the female, who
usually (in my experience) conducts the rest of the work alone.

[Illustration: SINKING THE BALL.]

[Illustration: YOUNG TUMBLE-BUG DIGGING OUT FROM HIS DUNGEON.]

She has evidently found a spot that suits her, and we expect her to
fulfil the directions of the books and entomological authorities. She
must "dig a deep hole first, and then roll the ball into it, and fill it
up again." But we will look in vain for such obedience. Instead of this
she persists in ploughing around beneath the ball, which seems at times
almost balanced on her back, until all the earth at this point is soft
and friable, and she is out of sight under it. Presently she appears
again at the surface, and as quickly disappears again, this time going
in upside down beneath the ball, which she pulls downward with her pair
of middle feet, while at the same time with hind legs and powerful
digging front legs she pushes outward and upward the loose earth which
she has accumulated. Visibly the ball sinks into the cavity moment by
moment as the earth is lowered for a space of half an inch in the
surrounding soil, and continually forced upward outside of its
circumference.