The burrow is never made at a bare or conspicuous point; it is always commenced under the shelter of a faded leaf of lettuce, the remains of the food provided.

This takes the place of the curtain of grass so necessary to preserve the mysterious privacy of the establishment.
The little miner scratches with his fore-claws, but also makes use of the pincers of his mandibles in order to remove pieces of grit or gravel of any size.

I see him stamping with his powerful hinder limbs, which are provided with a double row of spines; I see him raking and sweeping backwards the excavated material, and spreading it out in an inclined plane.

This is his whole method.
At first the work goes forward merrily.

The excavator disappears under the easily excavated soil of his prison after two hours' labour.