During the last days of June I have made an examination of these recently abandoned pits.

The soil is so compact that I needed a pick to tackle it.
The orifices are round, and close upon an inch in diameter.

There is absolutely no debris round them; no earth thrown up from within.

This is always the case; the holes of the Cigales are never surrounded by dumping-heaps, as are the burrows of the Geotrupes, another notable excavator.

The way in which the work is done is responsible for this difference.