第3章

Theselastarenotalwaysthemostscholarlynorthemostlearnednorthemostpatient，buttheyarethosewhopossessinahighdegreethatspecialvision，thatgift，properlyspeakingpoetic，whichisknownastheclinicaleye，whichatthefirstglanceperceivesandconfirmsthediagnosisinallitsdetail。

Fabrehasamindpropitioustosuchprocesses；andif，bychance，circumstanceshaddirectedhisattentiontomedicine，thatsciencewhichisbaseduponanabundantprovisionoffacts，butinwhichgoodsenseandakindofdivinationplayastillwiderpart，thereisnodoubtthathewouldhavebeencapableofbecomingashininglightinthisnewarena。

HewasfullofadmirationforthatotherillustriousVauclusian，Fran？oisRaspail(7/16。)，whosemedicalgeniusanticipatedPasteurandalltheconceptionsofmodernmedicine。Itwouldseemthathefoundinhimhisowntemper，hisownfashionofseeingandrepresentingthings。HelovedRaspail’sbooksandhisprescriptions，fullofreasonandamostjudiciousgoodsense，distrustingforhimselfandforhisfamilythecomplicatedformulaeandcunningremediesofanarttooconsideredandstillunproved。

AtCarpentras，whilehisfirst-born，émile，washoveringbetweenlifeanddeath，andthephysicianwhocametoseehim，“beingattheendofhisresources。”didnothingmoreforhimandsoonceasedtocome，thinkingthatthechildwouldnotlasttillthemorrow，FabreflewtotheworksofRaspail。

“Isearchedtodiscoverwhathismaladywas。Ifoundit，andhewastreateddayandnightaccordingly。To-dayheisconvalescent；andhisappetitehasreturned。Ibelieveheissaved，andIshallsay，likeAmbroiseParé，’I

havenursedhim；Godhascuredhim。’“(7/17。)

Theepisodewhichherelates，when，attheprimaryschoolofAvignon，aretorthadjustburst，“spurtinginalldirectionsitscontentsofvitriol。”rightinthemidstofthesuddenlyinterruptedchemistrylesson，andwhen，thankstohispromptaction，hesavedthesightofoneofhiscomrades，doeshonourtohisinitiativeandpresenceofmind。(7/18。)

While“allphysiciansshouldbowbeforethefactswhichheexcelsindiscovering“(7/19。)，hehasalsobeenabletomakedirectapplicationofthemarvelsofentomologytosomeoftheproblemsofhygieneandmedicine。

Hehasshownthattheirritantpoisonsecretedbycertaincaterpillars，“whichsetsthefingerswhichhandlethemonfire。”isnothingbutawasteproductoftheorganism，aderivativeofuricacid；hedoesnothesitatetoperformpainfulexperimentsonhimselfinordertofurnishtheproofofhistheory；andheexplainsthusthecuriouscasesofdermatitiswhichareoftenobservedamongsilkworm-breeders。(7/20。)Heprovestheuselessnessofourmeat-safesofmetallicgauze，intendedtopreservemeatagainstcontamination，andtheefficacyofamereenvelopeofpaper，notonlytopreservemeatfromflies，butalsoourgarmentsfromtheclothes-moth。

(7/21。)HerecommendsthecuriousProven？alrecipe，whichconsistsinboilingsuspectedmushroomsinsaltandwaterbeforeeatingthem。Finallyhesuggeststomembersofthemedicalprofessionthattheymightperhapsextractheroicremediesfromthesetreacherousvegetables。(7/22。)

Hehadneedofthatindefiniteleisurewhichhadhithertobeensowhollylacking，fortheeventsofephemerallivesoccuratindeterminatehours，atunexpectedmoments，andareofbriefduration。

So，attentivetotheirleastmovements，Fabregoesforthtoobservethemattheearliestbreakofday，inthereddawn，whenthebee“popsherheadoutofheratticwindowtoseewhattheweatheris。”andthespidersofthethicketslieinwaitunderthewhorlsoftheirnets，“whichthetearsofnighthavechangedintochapletsofdewdrops，whosemagicjewellery，sparklinginthesun。”isalreadyattractingmothsandmidges。

Seatedforhoursbeforeasprigofterebinth，hiseye，armedwiththemagnifyingglass，followstheslowmanoeuvresoftheterebinthlouse，whoseproboscis“cunninglydistilsthevenomwhichcausestheleaftoswellandproducesthoseenormoustumours，thosemisshapenandmonstrousgalls，inwhichtheyoungpasstheirperiodofslumber。”

Hewatchesatnight，bythedimlightofalantern，tocopytheScolopendraathertask，seekingtosurprisethesecretofhereggs(7/23。)；toobservetheCioneconstructinghercapsuleofgoldbeater’sskin，ortheProcessionalcaterpillarstravellingheadtotailalongtheirsatintrail，extinguishinghiscandleonlywhensleepatlastsetshiseyelidsblinking。

Hewillwakeearlytowitnessthefairy-likeresurrectionofthesilkwormmoth(7/24。)；“inordernottolosethemomentwhenthenymphburstsherswaddling-bands。”orwhenthewingofthelocustissuesfromitssheathand“commencestosprout“；nospectacleintheworldismorewonderfulthanthesightof“thisextraordinaryanatomyinprocessofformation。”theunrollingofthese“bundlesoftissue，cunninglyfoldedandreducedtothesmallestpossiblecompass“intheinsignificantalarstumps，whichgraduallyunfold“likeanimmensesetofsails。”likethe“body-linenoftheprincess“ofthefairy-tale，whichwascontainedinonesinglehemp-

seed。(7/25。)

InhisHarmasheislikeastrangerdiscoveringanunknownworld；“likeakindlygiantfromSirius，holdingamagnifyingglasstohiseye，retaininghisbreath，lestitshouldoverturnandsweepawaythepigmieswhichheisobserving。”

HispassionforinterrogatingtheSphinxoflife，everywhereandatallmoments，sufficedtofillhisdaysfromoneendoftheyeartotheother。

Whensomedistantsubjectinterestedhim，evenonthemostscorchingdays，hewouldput“hislunchinhispocket，anappleandacrustofbread。”andsitoutinthehotsunlight，accompaniedbyhisdog，Vasco，Tom，orRabbit；

fearingonlythatsomeimportunatethirdpersonmightcomebetweennatureandhimself。

Whenhewalkedinhisgardenhewouldletnothingescapehim；witnessthoseprecisenotesofaneclipseofthesun，andoftheeffectswhichthatphenomenonproducesuponanimallifeasawhole。

Whilehischildrenfollowedtheprogressofthemoonacrossthesunthroughapaneofsmokedglass，heattentivelyobservedallthatoccurredinthecountryside。

“Itisfour；thedaygrowspale；thetemperatureisfresher；thecockscrow，surprisedbythiskindoftwilightwhichcomesbeforethehour。Afewdogsarebaying……Theswallows，numerousbefore，havealldisappeared……acouplehavetakenrefugeinmystudy，onewindowofwhichisopen……whenthenormallightreturnstheywillcomeoutdoorsoncemore……Thenightingale，whichhadsolongimportunedmebyhisinterminablesong，issilentatlast(7/26。)；theblack-cappedskylarks，whichwerewarblingcontinually，aresuddenlystill……onlytheyounghouse-sparrowsunderthetilesoftheroofaremournfullychirping……Peaceandsilence，thedaylightmorethanhalfgone……IntheHarmasIcannolongerseetheinsectsflying；

Ifindonlyonebeepillagingtherosemary；alllifehasdisappeared。

“Onlyaweevil，theLixus。”whichheisobservinginacage，“continues，stepbystep，withouttheslightestemotion，hisamorousby-play，asthoughnothingunusualwerehappening……Thenightingaleandtheskylarkmaybesilent，oppressedbyfear；thebeemayre-enterherhive；butisaweeviltobeupsetbecausethesunthreatenstogoout？“(7/27。)

Hewasnolesscuriousconcerningtheresurrectionofthesun，andeverytimehemadeanexcursiontotheVentouxhewascarefulnottomissthisspectacle；settingoutatanearlyhourfromthefootofthemountain，sothathemightseethedawngrowbrightfromthesummitofitsrockymass；

thenthesun，suddenlyrisinginthemorningbreeze，andsettingfire，littlebylittle，totheAlpsofDauphinéandthehillsofComtat；andtheRh？ne，farbelow，slenderasasilverthread。

Hetookinfinitepleasuretooindrinkinghisfillofthesublimeterrorsofthethunderstorm，whichheregardedasoneofthemostmagnificentspectacleswhichnaturecanoffer；notcontentwithobservingitthroughglass，hewouldopenwidethewindowsatnightthebettertoenjoythephosphorescenceoftheatmosphere，theconflagrationoftheclouds，theburstsofthunder，andallthesolemnpompwithwhichthegreatpurifyingphenomenonmanifestsitself。

Butpureobservation，aspractisedbyhispredecessors，RéaumurandHuber，isofteninsufficient，or“furnishesonlyaglimpseofmatters。”

Hehadrecourse，therefore，toartificialobservationofthekindknownasexperimentation，andwemaysaythatFabrewasreallythefirsttoemploytheexperimentalmethodinthestudyofthemindsofanimals。

Nearthefieldofobservation，therefore，isthenaturalist’sworkshop，“theanimallaboratory。”inwhichsuchinductionsasmaybesuggestedbythedoingsandthemovementsoftheinsects“whichroamatlibertyamidstthethymeandlavender“aresubjectedtothetestofexperiment。Itisagreat，silent，isolatedroom，brilliantlylightedbytwowindowsfacingsouth，uponthegarden，oneatleastofwhichisalwayskeptopenthattheinsectsmaycomeandgoatliberty。

Intheglass-toppedboxesofpinewhichoccupyalmosttheentireheightofthewhitewashedwallsarecarefullyarrangedthecollectionssopatientlyamassed；alltheentomologicalfaunaoftheSouthofFrance，andthesea-

shellsoftheMediterranean；anabundantwealthalsoofdiversrarities；

numismaticaltreasuresandfragmentsofpotteryandotherprehistoricaldocuments，ofwhichthenumerousossuariesintheneighbourhoodofSérignan，scatteredhereandthereuponthehills，containmanyspecimens。

Atthetop，crowningthefacadeofglass-toppedcaseslikeanimmensefrieze，isthecolossalherbarium，thefirstvolumesofwhichgobacktotheearlyyouthoftheirowner；alltheflora，bothoftheMidiandtheNorth，thoseoftheplainsandthoseofthemountains，andallthealgaeoffreshandsaltwater。

ButitmustnotbesupposedthatFabreattachesanygreatvaluetothesecollections，enormousthoughthesumoflabourwhichtheyrepresent。Tohimtheyhavebeenameansofeducation，ameansoforganizingandarranginghisknowledge，andnotofsatisfyinganidlecuriosity；nottheamusementofonecontentwiththerindofthings。Inordertoidentifyatfirstsightsuchspecimensasoneencountersandproposestoexamine，onemustfirstofalllearntoobserveandtoseethoroughly，andtoschooltheeyesinthecoloursandformspeculiartoeachindividualspecies。

OnemayfairlycomplainofRéaumur，forexample，thathisknowledgewasuncertainandincomplete。Toooftenheleaveshisreadersundecidedastothenatureofthespecieswhosehabitshedescribes。Fabrehimself，bydintofcriticizingwithsomuchhumourtheabuseofclassifications，hassometimesallowedhimselftofallintothesamefault。(7/28。)Hehastakengoodcare，however，nottoneglectthesystematicstudyofspecies；witnesshis“FloraoftheVaucluse“andthatcarefulcatalogueofAvignonwhichhehasnotdisdainedtorepublish。(7/29。)Thetruthisthat“ifwedonotknowtheirnamestheknowledgeofthethingsescapesus“(7/30。)，andhewasprofoundlyconsciousofthetruthofthispreceptofthegreatLinnaeus。

Themiddleoftheroomisentirelyoccupiedbyagreattableofwalnut-

wood，onwhicharearrangedbottles，test-tubes，andoldsardine-boxes，whichFabreemploysinordertowatchtheevolutionofathousandnamelessordoubtfuleggs，toobservethelaboursoftheirlarvae，thecreationandthehatchingofcocoons，andthelittlemiraclesofmetamorphosis，“afteragerminationmorewonderfulthanthatoftheacornwhichmakestheoak。”

Coversofmetallicgauzerestingonearthenwaresaucersfullofsand，afewcarboysandflower-potsorsweetmeatjarsclosedwithasquareofglass；

theseserveasobservationorexperimentalcagesinwhichtheprogressandtheactionsof“thesetinylivingmachines“canbeexamined。

Fabrehasrevealedhimselfasapsychologistwithoutrival，ofaconsummateskillinthedifficultanddelicateartofexperimentation；theartofmakingtheinsectspeak，ofputtingquestionstoit，offorcingittobetrayitssecrets；forexperimentis“theonlymethodwhichcanthrowanylightuponthenatureofinstincts。”

Hisresourcesbeingslenderandhismindinventive，hehasingeniouslysupplementedthepovertyofhisequipment，andhasdiscoveredlesscostlyandlesscomplexmeansofconductinghisexperiments；knowingthesecretofextractingthesublimesttruthfromclumsycombinationsof“trivial，peasant-madearticles。”

Hehassucceeded，inhisrusticlaboratory，inapplyingtherigorousrulesofinvestigationandexperimentationestablishedbythegreatbiologists。

Hehasthereforebeenabletoestablishhisbeautifulobservationsinamannersoindisputablethatthosewhocomeafterhimandaretemptedtostudythesamethingscanbutarriveatthesameresults，andderiveinspirationfromhisresearches。

Tonotewithcareallthedetailsofaphenomenonisthefirstessential，sothatothersmayafterwardsrefertothemandprofitbythem；thedifficultthingistointerpretthem，todiscoverthecircumstances，thewhysandwherefores，theconsequences，andtheconnectinglinks。

Butasinglefactobservedbychanceatthewayside，andwhichwouldnotevenattracttheattentionofanother，willbeinstantlyluminoustothissearchingunderstanding，itwillsuggestquestionsunforeseen，andwillevoke，byanticipation，preconceivedideasandsuddenflashesofintuition，whichwillnecessitatethetestofexperiment。

Why，forexample，doesthePhilanthus，thatslenderwasp，whichcapturesthehoney-beeupontheblossomsinordertofeedherlarvae；why，beforeshecarriesherpreytoheroffspring，doesshe“outragethedyinginsect。”

bysqueezingitscropinordertoemptyitofhoney，inwhichsheappearstodelight，anddoesindeedactuallydelight？

“Thebanditgreedilytakesinhermouththeextendedandsugaredtongueofthedeadinsect；thenoncemoreshepressestheneckandthethorax，andoncemoreappliesthepressureofherabdomentothehoney-sacofthebee。

Thehoneyoozesforthandisinstantlylickedup。Thusthebeeisgraduallycompelledtodisgorgethecontentsofthecrop。Thisatrociousmeallastsoftenhalfanhourandlonger，untilthelasttraceofhoneyhasdisappeared。”

Thedetailedanswerisobtainedbyexperiment，whichperfectlyexplainsthis“odiousfeast。”theexcuseforwhichissimplymaternity。ThePhilanthusknows，instinctively，withouthavinglearnedit，thathoney，whichisherordinaryfare，is，byaverysingular“inversion。”amortalpoisontoherlarvae。(7/31。)

Asanaccomplishedphysiologist，Fabreconductsallkindsofexperiments。

Behindthewiresofhiscages，heprovokesthemovingspectacleofthescorpionatgripwiththewholeentomologicalfauna，inordertotesttheeffectsofitsterriblevenomuponvariousspecies；andthushediscoversthestrangeimmunityoflarvae；thevirus，“thereagentofatranscendentchemistry，distinguishesthefleshofthelarvafromthatoftheadult；itisharmlesstotheformer，butmortaltothelatter“；afreshproofthat“metamorphosismodifiesthesubstanceoftheorganismtothepointofchangingitsmostintimateproperties。”(7/32。)

Youmayjudgefromthisthatheknowsthroughandthroughthehistoryofthecreatureswhichformthesubjectsofhisfaithfulnarratives。Heisinformedofthesmallesteventsoftheirlives。Hepossessesacalendaroftheirbirths；herecordstheirchronologyandthesuccessionofgenerations；hehasnotedtheirmethodsofwork，examinedtheirdiet，andrecordedtheirmeals。Hediscoversthemotiveswhichdictatetheirpeculiaritiesofchoice；whytheCerceris，forinstance，amongallthevictimsatitsdisposal，neverselectsanythingbuttheBuprestisandtheweevils。Heisfamiliartoowiththeirtacticsofwarfareandtheirmethodsofconflict。

Hisgazehaspenetratedeventhemosthiddendwellings；thoseinwhichtheHalictus“varnisheshercellsandmakestheroundloafwhichistoreceivetheegg“；inwhich，underthecoverofcocoons，murderousgrubsdevourslumberingnymphs；eventhedepthsofthesoilarenothiddenfromhim，forthere，thankstohisartifices，hehassurprisedtheastonishingsecretoftheMinotaur。

Hesiftsalldoubtfulstories；anecdotes，statementsofsupposedhabits；

allthatisincoherent，orillobserved，ormisinterpreted；alltheclicheswhichthemakersofbookspassfromhandtohand。

Inplaceofrepetitionhegivesuslaws，constantfacts，fixedrules。

Withincomparableskill，herepeatsandteststheancientexperimentsofRéaumur。

HeisnotcontenttoshowusthatErasmusDarwinismistaken；hepointsouthowitisthathehasfallenintoerror。(7/33。)

Hesetshimselftodecipherthemeaningofoldtales，skilfullydisengagingthelittleparceloftruthwhichusuallyliesbeneathamassofincorrectorevenfalsestatements。HecriticisesLaFontaine，andquestionsthestatementsofHorusApolloandPliny。Fromamassofundigestedknowledgehehascreatedthelivingscienceofentomology，whichhadreceivedfromRéaumurafirstbreathofvitality，insuchwisethateachindividualcreatureispresentedinhisworkwithitspreciseexpressionandtheabsolutetruthofitscharacterandattitudes；theinhabitantsofthewoodsandfields，whetherthosewhichfeeduponthecropsorthosewhichliveinthecrevicesoftherocks，ortheobscureworkersthatcrawlupontheearth；allthosewhichhaveasecrettotellorsomethingtoteachus；theCigale，sodifferentfromtheinsectoftheFable；andaboveallthatbeetlewhosenamehadhithertobeenencounteredarrayedinthemostfantasticlegends，thefamousScarabaeussacerofthetombs，whichFabrepreferredtoplaceattheheadofhisepicasanagreeableprologue，althoughtheinquiryrelativetohisamazingfeatsbelongschronologicallytoacomparativelyrecentperiodofhiscareer。

Howmoderateheisinsuchsuppositionsasheventures；howcautiouswhenhispersistentpatiencehasatlaststruckagainst“theinaccessiblewalloftheUnknowable“！Then，withadmirablefrankness，tranquilandsincere，hesimplyownsthat“hedoesnotknow。”unlikesomanyothers，whoseuncriticalmindsarecontentedwithafragmentaryvision，andrunsofaraheadofthefactsthattheycanonlypromoteindefiniteillusionanderror。

Oneissurprisedindeedtoremarkhowfewevenofthemostlearnedandwell-informedofmenhavearealaptitudeforobservation，andahighlyinstructivebookmightbewrittenconcerningthediscrepanciesandtheweakpointsinourknowledge。Iftheyweresubjectedtoasufficientlyseveretest，howthreadbarewouldappearmanyofthoseproblemswhichnatureandtheworldpresent，andwhichareregardedasresolved！

Howlong，forinstance，wasneededtodestroythelegendofthecuckoo，incessantlyrepeateddowntothedaysofXavierRaspail，andtoussofamiliar；toelucidateitshistory，andtosetitinitstruelight！

(7/34。)

Itisbymeansofsuchdataasthesethatascienceisfounded，fortheoriesdecay，andonlywell-observedfactsremainirrefragable。Withstonessuchasthese，whicharehewnbythegreatartisan，thestructuresofthefuturewillbebuilt，andourownscience，perhaps，willonedayberefashioned。

ForthisreasonFabre’sbooksareaneducationforallthosewhowishtodevotethemselvestoobservation；amanualofmentaldiscipline，atrue“essayuponmethod。”whichshouldbereadbyeverynaturalist，andthemostinteresting，instructive，familiaranddelightfulcourseoftrainingthathaseverbeenknown。

Ontheotherhand，itisimpossibletoconceivewhatlabourthisdelicateworkdemands；whatperseveranceFabrehasrequiredpainfullytoextractonegrainofgold；togleanandunitethedefinitefactors，thepositivedocuments，whichservedasfoundationsforeachofhisessays；lucid，limpid，andcaptivatingasthemostdelightfuloffairy-tales。Wearecharmed，fascinated，andastonished；weseenothingofthegropingadvance，thechecks，andallthetoilandthepatiencedemanded。Wedonotsuspectthelongwaiting，thehesitation，thedesperatelengthoftheinquiries。

Forexample，toestablishthecuriousrelationswhichexistbetweenthewaspsandtheVolucellae，whatlongandrepeatedexperimentswereneedful！

Hisnotebooks，inwhichherecords，fromdaytoday，allthathesees，areevidenceofthis。Whatwatchesinthealleyoflilacs，yearafteryear，todecipherthemechanismandthemodeofconstructionofthehunting-netoftheEpe？ra！Someofthesehistories，likethatofthehyper-metamorphosisoftheMelo？，wereonlycompletedastheresultoftwenty-fiveyearsofassiduousinquiry，whilefortyyearswererequiredtocompletethatoftheScarabaeussacer，forhisobservationofitwasalwayspartial；itisalmostalwaysimpossibletodivinewhatonecannotseefromthelittlethatonedoessee；andasaruleonemustreturntothesamepointoverandoveragaininordertofilluplacunae。

ThemajorityoftheinsectswhichFabrehasstudiedaresolitary，andareonlytobeencounteredsingly，scatteredoverwideareasofcountry。Someliveonlyindeterminedspots，andnotelsewhere，suchasthefamousCerceris，ortheyellow-wingedSphex，ofwhichnotraceistobefoundbeyondthelimitsoftheCarpentrascountryside。

Theproperseasonmustbewatchedfor；onemustbereadyatanymomenttoprofitbyaluckychance，andresignoneselftointerminablewatchesatthebottomofaravine，orkeeponthealertforhoursunderafierysun。Oftenthechancegoesby，orthetrailfollowedprovesfalse；buttheseasonisover，andonemustwaitforthereturnofanotherspring。ThetradeofobserverinmanycasesresemblestheexhaustinglaboursoftheSisyphusbeetle，painfullypushinghispelletuparoughandstonypath；sothattheteamhaltsandstaggersateverymoment，theloadspillsoverandrollsaway，andallhastobecommencedoveragain。

Wecannowcastback，inordertoconsideratleisuretheimmortalstudywhichmarkedthebeginningofhisfame，withthegreaterinterestandprofitinthatFabrehasbeenable，duringhisretirement，togeneralizeandextendhisdiscovery。(7/35。)

LetusfirstofallnotehowtheobservationwhichDufourhadmadeofthenestoftheCerceriswastransformedinhishands，andwhatdevelopmentshewasabletoevolvetherefrom。

SincetheyhavebeendefinitelyestablishedbyFabrethesecuriousfactshavebeenwell-known。Theyformperhapsthegreatestprodigypresentedbyentomology，thatsciencesofullofmarvels。

Thesewaspsnourishthemselvesonlyonthenectarofflowers；buttheirlarvae，whichtheywillneverbehold，musthavefreshandsucculentfleshstillpalpitatingwithlife。

Theinsectdigsatunnelinthesoil，inwhichsheplaceshereggs，andhavingprovisionedthecellwithselectedgame——cricket，spider，caterpillar，orbeetle——shefinallyclosestheentrance，whichshedoesnotagaincross。

Likenearlyallinsects，theyoungwaspisborninthelarvalstate，andfromthemomentofitshatchingtotheendofitsgrowth——thatistosay，foraperiodofmanydays——thegrubenclosedinitscellcanlookfornohelpfromwithout。

Herethenisafascinatingproblem：eitherthevictimsdepositedbythemotheraredead，anddesiccationorputrefactionattacksthempromptly，orelsetheyareliving，asindeedthelarvaerequire；butthen“whatwillbecomeofthisfragilecreature，whichamerenothingwilldestroy，shutinthenarrowchamberoftheburrowamongvigorousbeetles，forweeksonendworkingtheirlongspurredlegs；oratgripswithamonstrouscaterpillarmakingplaywithitsflanksandmandibles，rollingandunrollingitstortuousfolds？“

SuchisthethrillingmysteryofwhichFabrediscoveredthekey。

Withinconceivableingenuity，thevictimisseizedandthrowntotheground，andthewaspplungeshersting，notatrandomintothebody，whichwouldinvolvetheriskofdeath，butatdeterminedpoints，exactlyintotheseatofthoseinvisiblenervousganglionswhosemechanismcommandsthevariousmovementsofthecreature。

Immediatelyafterthesesubtlewoundsthepreyisparalysedthroughoutitsbody；itsmembersappeartobedisarticulated，“asthoughallthespringswerebroken“；thetruecorpseisnotmoremotionless。

Butthewoundisnotmortal；notonlydoestheinsectcontinuetolive，butithasacquiredthestrangeprerogativeofbeingabletoliveforaverylongperiodwithouttakinganynourishment，thankspreciselytotheconditionofimmobility，insomesortvegetative，whichparalysisconfersuponit。

Whenthehourstrikesthehungrylarvawillfinditsfavouritemeatservedtoitsliking；anditwillattackthisdefencelesspreywithallthecircumspectionofarefinedeater；“withanexquisitelydelicateart，nibblingthevisceraofitsvictimlittlebylittle，withaninfalliblemethod；thelessessentialpartsfirstofall，andonlyinthelastinstancethosewhicharenecessarytolife。Herethenisanincomprehensiblespectacle；thespectacleofananimalwhich，eatenalive，mouthfulbymouthful，duringnearlyafortnight，ishollowedout，growslessandless，andfinallycollapses。”whileretainingtotheenditssucculenceanditsfreshness。

Thefactisthatthemotherhastakencaretodepositheregg“atapointalwaysthesame“intheregionwhichherstinghasrenderedinsensible，sothatthefirstmouthfulsareonlyfeeblyresented。Butastheenemygoesdeeperanddeeper“itsometimeshappensthatthecricket，bittentothequick，attemptstoretaliate；butitonlysucceedsinopeningandclosingthepincersofitsmandiblesontheemptyair，orinuselesslywavingitsantennae。”Vainefforts：“fornowthevoraciousbeasthasbittendeepintothespot，andcanwithimpunityransacktheentrails。”Whataslowandhorribleagonyfortheparalysedvictim，shouldsomeglimmerofconsciousnessstilllingerinitspunybrain！Whataterriblenightmareforthelittlefield-cricket，suddenlyplungedintothedenoftheSphex，sofarfromthesunlittuftofthymewhichsheltereditsretreat！

Toparalysewithoutkilling，“todeliverthepreytothelarvaeinertbutliving“：thatistheendtobeattained；onlythemethodvariesaccordingtothespeciesofthehunterandthestructureoftheprey；thustheCerceris，whichattacksthecoleoptera，andtheScolia，whichpreysuponthelarvaeoftherose-beetle，stingthemonlyonceandinasingleplace，becausethereisconcentratedthemassofthemotorganglions。

ThePompilus，whichselectsaspiderforitsvictim，nolessthantheredoubtableTarantula，knowsthatitsquarry“hastwonervouscentreswhichanimaterespectivelythemovementsofthelimbsandthoseoftheterriblefangs；hencethetwostabsofthesting。”(7/36。)

TheSphexplungesherdaggerthreetimesintothebreastofthecricket，becausesheknows，byanintuitionthatwecannotcomprehend，thatthelocomotorinnervationofthecricketisactuatedbythreenervouscentres，whichliewideapart。(7/37。)

Finally，theAmmophila，“thehighestmanifestationofthelogicofinstinct，whoseprofoundknowledgeleavesusconfounded，stabsthecaterpillarinnineplaces，becausethebodyofthevictimwithwhichitfeedsitslarvaeisaseriesofrings，setendtoend，eachofwhichpossessesitslittleindependentnervouscentre。”(7/38。)

Thisisnotall；thegeniusoftheSphexisnotyetattheendofitsforesight。Youhavedoubtlessheardofthecomatosestateintowhichthewoundedfallwhen，afterafractureoftheskull，thebrainiscompressedbyaviolenthaemorrhageorabonysplinter。Thephysiologistsimitatethisprocessofnaturewhentheywish，forexample，toobtain，inanimalsunderexperiment，astateofcompleteimmobility。Butdidthefirstsurgeonwhothoughtoftrepanningtheskullinordertoexertonthebrain，bymeansofasponge，acertaindegreeofcompression，everimaginethatananalogousprocedurehadlongbeenemployedintheinsectworld，andthattheseclumsymethodsweremerelychild’splaybesidetheastonishingfeatsoftheUnconscious？

Forthestabinthethoracicganglions，howeverefficacious，isofteninsufficient。Althoughthesixlimbsareparalysed，althoughthevictimcannotmove，itsmandibles，“pointed，sharp，serrated，whichcloselikeapairofscissors，stillremainamenacetothetyrant；theymightatleast，bygrippingthesurroundinggrasses，opposeamoreorlesseffectualresistancetotheprocessofcarryingoff。”Sotheprecedingmanoeuvresareconsummatedbyakindofgarrotting；thatis，theinsect“takescaretocompressthebrainofitsvictim，butsoastoavoidwoundingit；producingonlyastupor，asimpletorpor，apassinglethargy。”Isnottheingeniousobserverjustifiedinconcludingthat“thisisalarminglyscientific“？

BetweenthedrystatementsofDufour，whichservedFabreashisoriginaltheme，andtheunaccustomedwealthofthisvastphysiologicalpoetry，whatadistancehasbeencovered！

Howfarhaveweoutstrippedthisbarrenmatter，theseshapelesssketches！

Dufour，anothersolitary，whoretiredtohisprovince，inthedepthoftheLandes，wasabovealladescriptiveanatomist，andhelimitedhimselftoaninventoryofthenestofaCerceris。

ForhimtheBuprestesweredead，andtheirstateofpreservationwasexplainedsimplyasakindofembalming，duetosomespecialactionofthevenomoftheHymenoptera。

Thesefacts，therefore，werestatedassimplecuriosities。

Fabreprovedthatthesevictimspossessedalltheattributesoflifeexceptingmovement，byprovokingcontractionsintheirmembersundertheinfluenceofvariousstimulants，andbykeepingthemaliveartificiallyforanindefiniteperiod。

Ontheotherhand，hedemonstratedthecomparativeinnocuousnessofthevenomofthesewasps，someofwhich，likethegreatCercerisorthebeautifulandformidableScolia，alarmbytheirenormoussizeandtheirterrifyingaspect；sothattheconservationofthepreycouldnotbeduetoanyoccultquality，tosomemoreorlessactiveantisepticvirtueofthevenomousfluid，butsimplytotheprecisionofthestabandthemiraculousdeftnessofthe“surgeon。”

Healsopointedoutthefactthatthestingoftheinsectisableimmediatelytodissociatethenervoussystemofthevegetativelifefromthatofthecorrelativelife，sparingtheformer，andtakingcarenottowoundtheabdomen，whichcontainstheganglionsofthegreatsympatheticnerve，whileitannihilatesthelatter，whichismoreorlessconcentratedalongtheventralfaceofthethoracicregion。

Hecompletedthissplendiddemonstration，notonlybyprovokingunderhisowneyesthe“murderousmanoeuvres，theintimateandpassionatedrama。”butalsobyreproducingexperimentallyalltheseastonishingphenomena；

expoundingtheirmechanismandtheirvariationswithalogicandlucidity，anartandsagacitywhichraisethismarvellousobservation，oneofthemostbeautifulknowntoscience，totheheightofthemostimmortaldiscoveriesofphysiology。ClaudeBernard，inhiscelebratedexperiments，certainlyexhibitednogreaterinvention，notruergenius。

CHAPTER8。THEMIRACLEOFINSTINCT。

“TheSpiritBlowethWhitheritListeth。”

Whatisthisinstinct，whichguidestheinsecttosuchmarvellousresults？

Isitmerelyadegreeofintelligence，orsomeabsolutelydifferentformofactivity？

Isitpossible，bystudyingthehabitsofanimals，todiscoversomeofthoseelementaryspringsofactionwhoseknowledgewouldenableustodivemoredeeplyintoourownnatures？

FabrehaspresentedustohisSphex，the“infallibleparalyser。”Arewetocredithernotonlywithmemory，butalsowiththefacultyofassociatingideas，ofjudgment，andofpursuingatrainofreasoninginrespectofherastonishinglyco-ordinatedactions？

Puttothequestionbythemaliceoftheoperator，the“transcendent“

anatomisttripsoverameretrifle，andtheslightestnoveltyconfoundsher。

Withoutthecircleofherordinaryhabits，whatstupidity，“whatdarknesswrapsherround“！Sheretreats；sherefusestounderstand；“shewasheshereyes，firstpassingherhandsacrosshermouth；sheassumesadreamy，meditativeair。”Whatcanshebepondering？Underwhatformofthought，illusion，ormiragedoestheunfamiliarproblemwhichhasobtrudeditselfintohercustomarylifepresentitselfbehindthosefacetedeyes？(8/1。)

Howcanwetell？Wecanonlyattaintoknowledgeofourselvesbydirectintuition。Itisonlytheideaofouregowhichenablesustoconjecturewhatispassinginthebrainsofourfellows。Betweentheinsectandourselvesnounderstandingispossible，soremotearetheanalogiesbetweenitsorganizationandourown；andwecanonlyformidlehypothesesastoitsstatesofconsciousnessandtherealmotiveofitsactions。

Consideronlythatunknownandmysteriousenergywhichtheinsectsdisplayintheiroperationsandtheirlabours，asitisinitself，andletuscontentourselves，firstofall，withcomparingittoourownintelligence，suchasweconceiveittobe。

Inseekingtoappreciatewherebyitdiffersperhapsweshallgainmorethanbyvainlyseekingpointsofresemblance。Weshalldiscover，infact，behindtheinsectanditsprodigiousinstincts，avastandremotehorizon，aregionatoncemoreprofound，moreextensive，andmorefruitfulthanthatoftheintelligence；andifFabreisabletohelpustodecipherafewpagesof“themostdifficultofallvolumes，thebookofourselves。”itisprecisely，asaphilosophertoldhim，because“manhasremainedinstinctiveinprocessofbecomingintelligent。”(8/2。)

TheworkofFabreisfromthispointofviewaninvaluabletreasuryofobservationsandexperiments，andtherichestcontributionwhichhaseverbeenmadetothestudyofthesefascinatingproblems。

“Thefunctionoftheintelligenceistoreflect，tobeconscious；thatis，torelatetheeffecttoitscause，toadda“because“toa“why“；toremedytheaccidental；toadaptanewcourseofconducttonewcircumstances。”

InrelationtothehumanintelligencethusdefinedFabrehasconsideredthesenervousaptitudes，sowelladjusted，accordingtotheevolutionists，byancienthabit，thattheyhavefinallybecomeimpulsiveandunconscious，and，properlyspeaking，innate。Hehasdemonstrated，withanabundanceofproofandapowerofargumentthatwemustadmire，theblindmechanismwhichdeterminesallthemanifestations，eventhemostextraordinary，ofthatwhichwecallinstinct，andwhichheredityhasfixedinaspeciesofunchangeableautomatism，liketherhythmoftheheartandthelungs。(8/3。)

Letus，fromthiswealthofmaterial，fromamongthemostsuggestiveexamples，selectsomeofhismoststrikingdemonstrations，whichareclassicsoftheirkind。

Fabrehasnotattemptedtodefineinstinct，foritisindefinable；nortoprobeitsessentialnature，whichisimpenetrable。Buttorecognizetheorderofnatureisinitselfasufficientlyfascinatingstudy，withoutstrivingtocrackanunbreakableboneorwastingtimeinponderinginsolubleenigmas。Theimportantmatteristoavoidtheintroductionofillusions，tobewareofexceedingthedataofobservationandexperiment，ofsubstitutingourowninferencesforthefacts，ofoutstrippingrealityandamplifyingthemarvellous。

Letuslistentothescrupulousanalysiswhoselessons，scatteredthroughfourthousandpages，teachusmoreconcerninginstinctanditsinnumerablevariationsthanallthemostlearnedtreatisesandspeculationsofthephilosophers。

Nothingintheworldperplexesthemindoftheobserverlikethespectacleofthebirthandgrowthoftheinstincts。

Atpreciselytherightmoment，justasfailureordisasterseemsforeordainedbythepreviouslyestablishedcircumstances，Fabreshowsushisinsectsassuddenlymasteredbyanirresistibleforce。

“Attherightmoment“theyinvinciblyobeysomesortofmysteriousandinflexibleprescription。Withoutapprenticeship，theyperformtheveryactionsrequired，andblindlyaccomplishtheirdestiny。

Then，themomenthavingpassed，theinstincts“disappearanddonotreawaken。Afewdaysmoreorlessmodifythetalents，andwhattheyounginsectknewtheadulthasoftenforgotten。”(8/4。)

AmongtheLycosae，atthemomentofexodus，asuddeninstinctisevolvedwhichafewhourslaterdisappearsnevertoreturn。Itistheclimbinginstinct，unknowntotheadultspider，andsoonforgottenbytheemancipatedyoung，whoaredestinedtoroamuponthefaceoftheearth。ButtheyoungLycosae，anxioustoleavethematernalhomeandtotravel，becomesuddenlyardentclimbersandaeronauts，eachreleasingalong，lightthreadwhichservesitasparachute。Thevoyageaccomplished，notraceofthisingenuityisleft。Suddenlyacquired，theclimbinginstinctnolesssuddenlydisappears。(8/5。)

Thegreathistoriographerofinstincthasthrownawonderfullight，byhisbeautifulexperimentsrelatingtothenidificationofthemason-bee，upontheindissolublesuccessionofitsdifferentphases；thelinealconcatenation，theinevitableandnecessaryorderwhichpresidesovereachofthesenervousdischargesofwhichthetotalseriesconstitutes，properlyspeaking，amodeofaction。

Themason-beecontinuestobuildupontheready-completednestpresentedtoher。Sheobstinatelyinsistsuponprovisioningacellalreadydulyfilledwiththequantityofhoneyrequiredbythelarva，because，inthiscaseasintheother，theimpulsewhichinciteshertobuildortoprovisionthenesthasnotyetbeenexhausted。

Ontheotherhand，ifweemptythelittlecupofitscontentswhenshehasfilleditshewillnotrecommenceherlabours。“Theprocessofprovisioningbeingcomplete，thesecretimpulsewhichurgedhertocollectherhoneyisnolongeractive。Theinsectthereforeceasestostoreherhoney，and，inspiteofthisaccident，layshereggintheemptycell，thusleavingthefuturenurslingwithoutnourishment。”(8/6。)

InthecaseofthePelopaeus，Fabrecallsourattentiontooneofthemostinstructivephysiologicalspectaclesthatcanbeimagined。

Whilethemason-beedoesnotnoticethathercellhasbeenemptied，thePelopaeuscannotperceivethatthetricksoftheexperimenterhaveresultedinthedisappearanceofherprogeny；andshe“continuestostoreawayspidersforagermthatnolongerexists；sheperseveresuntiringlyinheruselesshunting，asthoughthefutureofherlarvadependedonit；sheamassesprovisionswhichwillfeednoone；more，shepushesaberrationtotheextentofplasteringeventheplacewherehernestwasifweremoveit，givingthelaststrokesofthetroweltoanimaginarybuilding，andputtinghersealsuponemptynothing。”(8/7。)

>Fromthesefacts，andothers，nolesscelebrated，whichshow“theinabilityofinsectstoescapefromtheroutineoftheircustomsandtheirhabituallabours。”Fabrederivessomanyproofsoftheirlackofintelligence。

TheEpe？rafasciataisincapableofreplacingasingleradialthreadinthegeometricalstructureofitsweb，whenbroken；itrecommencestheentirewebeveryevening，andweavesitatonestretchwiththemostbeautifulmastery，asthoughmerelyamusingitself。

ThecaterpillaroftheGreaterPeacockmothteachesusthesamelesson；

whenoccupiedinweavingitscocoonitdoesnotknowhowtorepairanartificialrent；and“inspiteofthecertaintyofitsdeath，orratherthatofthefuturebutterfly，itquietlycontinuestospin，withouttroublingtocovertherent；devotingitselftoasuperfluoustask，andignoringthetreacherousbreach，whichleavesthecocoonanditsinhabitantatthemercyofthefirstthiefthatfindsit。”(8/8。)

Thus“becauseoneactionhasjustbeenperformed，anothermustinevitablybeperformedtocompletethefirst；whatisdoneisdone，andisneverrepeated。Likethewatercourse，whichcannotclimbthehillsandreturntoitssource，theinsectdoesnotretraceitsstepsorrepeatitsactions，whichfollowoneanotherinvariably，andareinevitablyconnectedinanecessaryorder，likeaseriesofechoes，oneofwhichawakensanother……Theinsectknowsnothingofitsmarvelloustalents，justasthestomachknowsnothingofitscunningchemistry。Itbuildslikeabricklayer，weaves，hunts，stabs，andparalyses，asitsecretesthevenomofitsweapons，thesilkofitscocoon，thewaxofitscomb，orthethreadsofitsweb；alwayswithouttheslightestknowledgeofthemeansandtheend。”(8/9。)

Thusinstinctisonethingandintelligenceisanother；andforFabrethereisnotransitionwhichcantransformtheoneintotheother。

Buthowprofoundandabundant，howinfiniteisthesourcefromwhichthismanifoldactivityderives，distributedasitisthroughouttheentireanimalkingdom；andwhichinourselvescommandstheprofoundestpartofournature；unconscious，oreveninoppositiontoourwonderfulintelligence，whichitoftensilencesoraltogetheroverwhelms。

Althoughtheinsect“hasnoneedoflessonsfromitselders“inordertoaccomplishitsbeautifulmasterpieces，thecomprehensiveconceptofthegeniuswhichrisesspontaneouslyandatasinglesteptotheloftiestconceptionsisnotalwaysaproductofpurereason。

Comparethesublimelogicofanimalmaternity，theimpeccabledictatesofinstinct，withthehesitations，thegropings，theuncertainties，theerrorsandtragicfailuresofhumanmaternity，whenitseekstoreplacetheunerringcommandsofinstinctbytheclumsyeffortsoftheintelligence！

Ifallisdarknesstotheanimal，apartfromitshabitualpaths，howfeebleandhesitating，howfalteringandunequalisreasonwhenitseekstoopposeitslaboriousinductionstotheinfalliblewisdomoftheunconscious！

Itis，infact，tothisconcatenationofactions，narrowlyconnectedbyamutualdependence，thatweowethisinexhaustibleseriesofcunningindustriesandwonderfularts。ToFabretheyaresomanyfeatsofalearnedunconsciousness。

“Seethenest，theaccustomedmasterpieceofmothers；itismoreoftenthanotherwiseananimalfruit，acofferfullofgerms，containingeggsinplaceofseeds。”

ThesatinbagoftheEpe？rafasciata，inwhichhereggsareenclosed，“breaksatthecaressofthesun，liketheskinofanover-ripepomegranate。”

TheDorthesia，thelouseinhabitingtheeuphorbia，“treblesthelengthofherbody，prolongingitshinderpartintoapouch，comparabletothatoftheopossum，intowhichtheeggsaredropped，andinwhichtheyoungarehatched，toleaveitafterwardsatwill。”(8/10。)

TheChermesoftheilex“hardensintoarampartofebony，whenceaninnumerablelegionofverminburstsforthonedaywithoutchangingtheirplace。”

Thecapsuleofgold-beater’sskin，inwhichthegrubsoftheCioneareenclosed，dividesitself，atthemomentofliberation，intotwohemispheres“ofaregularitysoperfectthattheyrecallexactlytheburstingofthepyxidiumwhentheseedisdistributed。”(8/11。)

Hereandthere，however，wecatchaglimpseofarudimentofwhatweunderstandbyconsciousness，intheshapeofa“vaguediscrimination。”

Eachplanthasitslover，drawntoitbyakindofelectiveaffinityandinvariabletendency。TheLarramakesforthethistle，theVanessaforthenettle，theClytusfortheilex，andtheCriocerisforthelily。“Theweevilknowsnothingbutitspeasandbeans，thegoldenRhynchitesonlythesloe，andtheBalaninusonlythenutoracorn。”

ButthePieris，whichhauntsthecabbage，frequentsthenasturtiumalso，andthegoldenrose-beetle，which“intoxicatesitselfattheclustersofthehawthorn。”isnolessaddictedtothenectaroftherose。

TheXylocopa，whichburrowsinthetrunksoftreesandoldrafters，forminglittleroundcorridorsinwhichtolodgeheroffspring，“willutilizeartificialgallerieswhichshehasnotherselfbored。”

TheChalicodoma“alsoisawareoftheeconomicadvantagesofanoldabandonednest“；theAnthophoraiscarefultoestablishherfamily“attheleastexpense。”andprofitsonoccasionbygallerieswhichhavebeenminedbypreviousgenerations；adaptingherselftothesenewconditions，sherepairsthetunnelswhichshedidnotconstruct“andeconomizesherforces。”(8/12。)

Itwouldseem，therefore，thatthesetinymindsarecreatedandshapedbymeansofexperience；theyrecognize“thatwhichismostfitting“；theylearn，theycompare；maywenotalsosaythattheyjudge？

DoesnottheMason-bee，“whichrakestheroadsforadrypowderydustandmixesitwithsalivatoconvertitintoahardcement。”foreseethatthismudwillharden？

IsthePelopaeusdevoidofjudgmentwhensheseekstheinteriorofdwelling-housesinordertoshelterhernestofdriedclay，whichtheleastdropofrainwouldreducetoitsoriginalstateofmud？

Isitwithoutknowledgeoftheeffectsthatthesloe-weevilbuildsaventilatingchimneytopreventtheasphyxiationofherlarva？thattheScarabaeussacercontrivesafilteratthesmallerendofitspear-shapedball，bymeansofwhichthegrubisabletobreathe？orthatArachnelabyrintha“introducesinhersilk-workarampartofcompressedearthtoprotecthereggsfromtheprobeoftheIchneumon“？

Maywenotalsoseeamasterpieceofthehighestlogicinthehouseofthetrap-doorspider，Arachneclotho，whichisfurnishedwithadoor，atruedoor“whichshethrowsopenwithapushoftheleg，andcarefullyboltsbehindheronreturningbymeansofalittlesilk“？(8/13。)

WhatamiracleofinventiontooistheprodigiousnestoftheEumenes，“withitseggsuspendedbyathreadfromtheroof，likeapendulum，oscillatingatthelightestbreathinordertosaveitfromcontactwiththecaterpillars，which，incompletelyparalysed，arewrigglingandwrithingbelow“！Later，whentheeggishatched，“thefilamentistransformedintoatube，aplaceofrefuge，upwhichthegrubclambersbackwards。Attheleastsignofdangerfromthemassofcaterpillarsthelarvaretreatsintoitssheathandascendstotheroof，wherethewrigglingswarmcannotreachit。”

(8/14。)

LetusreferalsototheremarkablehistoryoftheCopris。Wecannotdenythatthevaliantdung-beetleiscapableof“evadingtheaccidental“(whichtoFabreconstitutesoneofthedistinctivecharacteristicsoftheintelligence)，sinceitimmediatelyintervenesifwiththepointofapenknifeweopentheroofofitsnestandlaybareitsegg。“Thefragmentsraisedbytheknifeareimmediatelybroughttogetherandsoldered，sothatnotraceisleftoftheinjury，andallisoncemoreinorder。”WemayreadalsowithwhatincredibleaddressthemotherCopriswasabletouseandtoprofitbytheready-madepelletsofcow-dungwhichitoccurredtoFabretoofferher。(8/15。)

Buttheirscopeislimited，andencroachesverylittle，intheeyesofthegreatobserver，onthedomainofintelligence。Thishedemonstratestosatiety，andhisastonishingNecrophori，whichadaptthemselvessoadmirablytocircumstancesandtriumphovertheexperimentaldifficultiestowhichhesubjectsthem，seemscarcelytoexceedthelimitsofthoseactionswhichatbottomaremerelyunconscious。(8/16。)

WiththespawningoftheOsmia，Fabrethrowsafreshandunexpectedlightontheintuitiveknowledgeofinstinct。

Wearestillgropingourwayamongthecauseswhichrulethedeterminationofthesexes。Biologyhasonlybeenabletothrowafewscatteredlightsonthesubject，andwepossessonlyafewapproximatedata；whichneverthelessareturnedtoaccountbythebreedersofinsects。Wearestillintheregionofillusionandimperfectprognostics。

ButtheOsmiaknowswhatwedonot。Sheisdeeplyversedinallphysiologicalandanatomicalknowledge，andinthefacultyofcreatingchildrenofeithersexatwill。

Theseprettybees，“withcopperyskinandfleeceofruddyvelvet。”whichestablishtheirprogenyinthehollowofabramblestump，thecavityofareed，orthewindingstaircaseofanemptysnail-shell，knowthefixedandimmutablegeneticlawswhichwecanonlyguessat，andarenevermistaken。

ThismarvellousprerogativetheOsmiashareswithahostofapiaries，inwhichtheunequaldevelopmentofthemalesandfemalesrequiresanunequalprovisionofspaceandofnourishmentforthefuturelarvae。Forthefemales，whoexceedinpointofsize，hugecellsandabundantprovision；

forthemorepunymales，narrowcellsandasmallerrationofpollenandhoney。

NowthecircumstanceswhichareencounteredbytheOsmia，when，pressedbythenecessitiesofspawning，shesearchesforadwelling，areoftenfortuitousandincapableofmodification；andinordertogiveeachsetoflarvaethenecessaryspace“shelaysatwillamaleorafemaleegg，accordingtotheconditionsofspace。”

Inthismarvellousstudy，whichconstitutes，withthehistoryoftheCerceris，thefinestmasterpieceofexperimentalentomology，FabrebrilliantlyestablishesallthedetailsofthatcuriouslawwhichintheHymenopterarulesboththedistributionandthesuccessionofthesexes。Inhisartificialhives，inglasscylinders，heforcestheOsmiatocommenceherspawningwiththemales，insteadofbeginningwiththefemalesasnaturerequires，sincetheinsectisprimarilypreoccupiedwiththemoreimportantsex，thatwhichensuresparexcellencetheperpetuationofthespecies。Heevenforcesthewholeswarmwhichbuzzesabouthiswork-tables，hisbooks，hisbottles，andapparatus，completelytochangetheorderofitsspawning。HeshowsfinallythatintheheartoftheovariestheeggoftheOsmiahasasyetnodeterminedsex，andthatitisonlyattheprecisemomentwhentheeggisonthepointofemergingfromtheoviductthatitreceives，ATTHEWILLOFTHEMOTHER，themysterious，final，andinevitableimprint。

ButwhencedoestheOsmiaderivethis，“distinctideaoftheinvisible“？

HereagainisoneofthoseriddlesofnaturewhichFabredeclareshimselfquiteincapableofsolving。(8/17。)

Isthisall？No；wearefarfromhavingmadethetourofthismiraculousandincommensurablekingdomthroughwhichthisadmirablemasterleadsus，andIshouldneverbedonewereItoattempttoexhaustallthespectacleswhichheoffersus。Letusdescendyetanotherstep，amongcreaturesyetsmallerandhumbler。Weshallfindtendencies，impulses，preferences，efforts，intentions，“Machiavellicrusesandunheard-ofstratagems。”

Certainmiserableblackmites，livingspecks，thelarvaeofabeetle，oneoftheMeloidae，theSitaris，areparasitesofthesolitarybee，theAnthophora。Theywaitpatientlyallthewinterattheentranceofhertunnel，ontheslopeofasunnybank，forthespringtimeemergenceoftheyoungbees，asyetimprisonedintheircellsofclay。AmaleAnthophora，hatchedalittleearlierthanthefemales，appearsintheentranceofthetunnel；thesemites，whicharearmedwithrobusttalons，rousethemselves，hastentoandfro，hookthemselvestohisfleece，andaccompanyhiminallhisperegrinations；buttheyquicklyrecognizetheirerror；fortheseanimatedspecksarewellawarethatthemales，occupiedalldaylonginscouringthecountryandpillagingtheflowers，liveexclusivelyoutofdoors，andwouldinnowiseservetheirend。ButthemomentcomeswhentheAnthophorapayscourttothefairsex，andtheimperceptiblecreatureimmediatelyprofitsbytheamorousencountertochangeitswingedcourser。

“Thesepigmiesthereforehaveamemory，anexperienceoffacts“(andhowoneistemptedtoadd，aglimmeringofintelligence！)。Grapplednowtothefemalebee，thegruboftheSitaris“concealsitself，andallowsitselftobecarriedbyher“totheendofthegalleryinwhichsheisnowcontrivinghercradle，“watchestheprecisemomentwhentheeggislaid，installsitselfuponit，andallowsitselftofalltherewithuponthesurfaceofthehoney，inordertosubstituteitselfforthefutureoffspringoftheAnthophora，andpossessitselfofhouseandvictuals。”(8/18。)

Another“littlegelatinousspeck。”“ashadowofacreature。”thelarvaofaChalcidian，theLeucopsis，oneoftheparasitesoftheMason-bee，knowsthatinthecellofthemasonthereisfoodforoneonly。Scarcelyhasitenteredthetinydwellingbutweseethis“namelessshape“forseveraldays“anxiouslywandering；itvisitsthetopandbottom，theback，thefront，thesides“；itmakesthetourofitsdomain；“itsearchesinthedarkness，palpitating，seeminglywithanobjectinview。”Whatdoesthis“animatedglobule“want？whyisthisatomsoexcited？Itissearchingtodiscoverifthereisnotinsomecornerhithertounexploredanotherlarva，arival，thatitmayexterminateit！(8/19。)

Whatthenintrinsicallyisinstinct？Andwhatintrinsicallyisintelligence？

Howcanweproposetodrawuptheinexhaustibleinventoryofallthemanifestationsoflife，andwhyattempttoincludeallitsspeciesandtheirunknownvarietiesinnarrowclasses？Whysaythatthereareonlytwomodesoflife，instinctontheonehandandintelligenceontheother，“whenweknowhowsubtleandillusiveisthisProteus，andthattherearenottwothingsonly，butathousanddissimilarthings“(8/20。)：orratherisitnotalwaysthesamething，everywherepresentandactinginlivingmatter，andsusceptibleofinfinitedegrees，underformsanddisguisesinnumerable？

Thisiswhyitescapesthe“scalpelofthemasters“andtheapparatusofthechemists。Wemaydissect，wemayscrutinizeorgansunderthemagnifyingglass，examinewing-cases，countthenervuresofthewings，thenumberofarticulationsinthelimbs；wemayreckoneverypoint，likeRéaumurforgettingnotaline，notahair；wemaycompareandmeasureeveryportionofthemouth，anddefinetheclass；andweshallnotfindasinglepointinallthisphysicalarchitecturewhichwillpositivelyinformusofthehabitsoftheinsect。Ofwhataccountareafewslightdifferences？Itisinthephysicalfarmorethanintheanatomicaldifferencesthattheinviolabledemarcationbetweentwospeciesexists。Instinctsdominateforms；thetooldoesnotmaketheartisan；“andnoneofthesevariousstructures，howeverwelladaptedtheymayappeartous，bearswithinititsreasonoritsfinality。”

Thuswhateveropinionwemayholdastothenatureofinstinct，theaccomplishmentsandhabitsofinsectsarenot，properlyspeaking，connectedwiththeexternalandvisibleformoftheirorgans，andtheiractsdonotnecessarilypresupposetheinstrumentswhichwouldbeappropriatetothem。

Weknowthatwithmostorganisms，andparticularlywithplants，analmostimperceptiblevariationinmaterialcircumstancesisoftenenoughtomodifytheircharacterandtoproducefreshaptitudes。Nevertheless，wecanbutwonder，withFabre，thatphysicalmodifications，which，whentheydoexist，aresoslightalwaysastohaveescapedthemostperfectobservation，shouldhavesufficedtodeterminetheappearanceofprofoundlydissimilarfaculties。Inexplicableabilities，unexpectedhabits，unforeseenphysicalaptitudes，andunheard-ofindustriesareexercisedbymeansoforganswhicharehereandtherepracticallyidentical。“Thesametoolsareequallygoodforanypurpose。Talentaloneisabletoadaptthemtomanifoldends。”

TheAnthidiahavetwoparticularindustries；“thosewhichfeltcottonandcardthesoftdownofhairyplantshavethesameclaws，thesamemandibles，composedofthesameportionsasthosewhichkneadresinandmixitwithfinegravel。”(8/21。)

Thesloe-weevil“boresthehardstoneofthesloewiththesamerostrumasthatwhichitscongeners，solikeitinconformation，employtorolltheleavesofthevineandthepoplarintotinycigars。”

TheimplementoftheMegachile，therose-fly，isbynomeansappropriatetoitsindustry；“yettheperfectlycircularfragmentsofleaveshavethepreciseperfectionofformthatapunchwouldgive。”

TheXylocopa，inordertopiercewoodandtoboreitsgalleriesinanoldrafter，employs“thesameutensilswhichinothersaretransformedintopicksandmattockstoattackclayandgravel，anditisonlyapredispositionoftalentthatholdseachworkertohisspeciality。”

Moreover，havenotthesuperioranimalsthesamesensesandthesamestructure，yetwhatinequalitythereisamongthem，inthematterofaptitudesanddegreesofintelligence！

Habitsarenomoredeterminedbyanatomicalpeculiaritiesthanareaptitudesorindustries。

ThetwoGoat-mothcaterpillars，ofsimilarstructure，haveentirelydifferentstomachicaptitudes；“theexclusiveportionoftheoneistheoakandoftheotherthehawthornorthecherry-laurel。”

“WhencedoestheMantisderiveitsexcessivehunger，itspugnacity，itscannibalism，andtheEmpusaitssobriety，itspeaceableness，whentheiralmostidenticalorganizationwouldseemtoindicateanidentityofneeds，instincts，andhabits？“

Inthesamewaytheblackscorpionappearstopresentnoneoftheinterestingpeculiaritieswhichweobserveinthehabitsofitscongener，thewhitescorpionofLanguedoc。(8/22。)

Structure，therefore，tellsusnothingofaptitude；theorgandoesnotexplainitsfunction。Letthespecialistshypnotizethemselvesovertheirlensesandmicroscopes；theymayaccumulateatleisuremassesofdetailsrelatingtothisorthatfamilyorgenusorindividual；theymayundertakethemostsubtleinquiries，maywritethousandsandthousandsofpagesinordertodetailafewslightvariations，withoutevensucceedinginexhaustingthematter：theywillnotevenhaveseenwhatismostwonderful。

Whenthelittleinsecthasforthelasttimecleaneditsclaws，thesecretofthelittlemindhasfledforever，withallthefeelingsthatanimateditandgaveitlife。Thatwhichiscrystallizedindeathcannotexplainwhatwaslife。ThisisthethoughtwhichtheProven？alsinger，withthatintuitionwhichistheprivilegeofgenius，hasexpressedinthesemelodiouslines：

“Oh！paudesènqu’emél’escaupreFurnantlamort，cresondesaupre，Lavertudel’abihoelousecrètdoùméu。”

(Omenoflittlesense，whoseek，Scalpelinhand，tomakeDeathtellThevirtueofthebee，thesecretofhercell！)(8/23。)

CHAPTER9。EVOLUTIONOR“TRANSFORMISM。”

“Howdidamiserablegrubacquireitsmarvellousknowledge？Areitshabits，itsaptitudes，anditsindustriestheintegrationoftheinfinitelylittle，acquiredbysuccessiveexperiencesonthelimitlesspathoftime？“

ItisinthesewordsthatFabrepresentstheproblemofevolution。

Difficultthoughitmaybetofollowthesequenceofformswhichhaveendlesslysucceededandreplacedoneanotheronthefaceoftheearth，sincethebeginningoftheworld，itiscertainthatalllivingcreaturesarecloselyrelated；andthemagnificentandfertilehypothesisofevolution，whichseekstoexplainhowextantformsarederivedfromextinct，hastheimmenseadvantageofgivingaplausiblereasonforthemajorityofthefactswhichatleastceasetobecompletelyunintelligible。

Otherwisewecancertainlyneverimaginehowsomanyinstincts，andthesesocomplexandperfect，couldhaveissuedsuddenly“fromtheurnofhazard。”

ButFabrewillsupposenothing；hewillonlyrecordthefacts。Insteadofwanderingintheregionofprobabilities，hepreferstoconfinehimselftothereality，andfortheresttoreplysimplythat“wedonotknow。”

Thisstern，positive，rigorous，independent，andobservantmind，nourishedupongeometryandtheexactsciences，whichhasneverbeenabletocontentitselfwithapproximationsandprobabilities，couldbutdistrusttheseductionsofhypotheses。

Hisrobustcommonsense，whichwasalwayshisprotectionagainstprecipitateconclusions，tooclearlycomprehendsthelimitsofscienceandthenecessityofaccumulatingfacts“uponthethornypathofobservationandexperiment“toindulgeingeneralization。Hefeelsthatlifehassecretswhichourmindsarepowerlesstoprobe，andthat“humanknowledgewillbeerasedfromthearchivesoftheworldbeforeweknowthelastwordconcerningthesmallestfly。”

Thisiswhyhewasregardedas“suspect“bythecompanyofofficialscientists，towhomhewasadissenter，almostatraitor，especiallyatamomentwhenthetheoriesofevolution，theninthefirstflushoftheirnovelty，wereeverywherethecauseofageneralelation。

Nooneasyetwascapableofdiviningthemanofthefutureinthismodestthinkerwhowouldnotacceptthewordofthemastersinterested，butinopposingthetheoryoftransformation，farfrombeingreactionary，Fabrerevealedhimself，atleastinthedomainofanimalpsychology，asaninnovator，atrueprecursor。

Moreover，hisobservations，alwayssodirectandpersonal，oftenrevealedthecontraryofwhatwasassertedorforeseenbythemagicformulaesuggestedbythemind。

Totheingeniousmechanisminventedbythetransformistshepreferredtooppose，notcontraryargument，butthenakedundeniablefact，theobvioustestimony，thecertainandirrefragableexample。“Isit。”hewouldaskthem，“torepulsetheirenemiesthatcertaincaterpillarssmearthemselveswithacorrosiveproduct？ButthelarvaoftheCalosomasycophanta，whichfeedsontheProcessionalcaterpillaroftheoak-tree，paysnoheedtoit，neitherdoestheDermestes，whichfeedsontheentrailsoftheProcessionalcaterpillarofthepine-tree。”

Andconsidermimicry。Accordingtothetheoryofevolution，certaininsectswouldutilizetheirresemblancetocertainothersinordertoconcealthemselves，andtointroducethemselvesintothedwellingsofthelatterasparasiteslivingattheirexpense。SuchwouldbethecasewiththeVolucella，alargeflywhosecostume，stripedwithbrownandyellowbands，givesitaruderesemblancetothewasp。Obliged，ifnotforitsownsakeatleastforthatofitsfamily，toforceitselfintothewasp’sdwellingasaparasite，itdeceitfullydressesitself，wearetold，intheliveryofitsvictim，thusaffordingthemostcuriousandstrikingexampleofmimicry；andnaturalistsinsufficientlyinformedwouldregarditasoneofthegreatesttriumphsofevolution。

NowwhatdoestheVolucellado？Itistruethatitlaysitseggswithoutbeingdisturbedinthenestofthewasp。But，astherigorousobserverwilltellyou，itisapreciousauxiliaryandnotanenemyofthecommunity。Itsgrubs，farfromdisguisingorconcealingthemselves，“comeandgoopenlyuponthecombs，althougheverystrangerisimmediatelymassacredandthrownout。”Moreover，“theywatchthehygieneofthecitybyclearingthenestofitsdeadandriddingthelarvaeofthewaspsoftheirexcretoryproducts。”

Plungingsuccessivelyintoeachchamberofthedormitorytheforepartoftheirbodies，“theyprovoketheemissionofthatfluidexcrementofwhichthelarvae，owingtotheircloistration，containanextremereserve。”Inaword，thegrubsoftheVolucella“arethenursesofthelarvae。”performingthemostintimateduties。”(9/1。)

Whatanastonishingconclusion！Whatadisconcertingandunexpectedreplytothe“theoriesinvogue“！

Fabre，however，withhispoetictemperamentandardentimagination，seemedadmirablypreparedtograspallthatvastnetworkofrelationsbywhichallcreaturesareconnected；butwhatprovesthesolidityofhisimperishableworkisthatalltheories，alldoctrines，andallsystemsmayresorttoitinturnandprofitbyhisproofsandarguments。

Andhehimself，althoughheboastswithsomuchreasonofputtingforwardnopretensions，notheories，nosystems，hashenotevensoyieldedsomewhattothesuggestionsoftheprevailingschoolofthought，andhavenothisverdictsagainstevolutionoftenbeenthemoreexcessiveinthathehaspaidsonotableatributetotheevolutionaryprogressofcreation？

Inthefirstplace，heisfarfromexcludingtheundeniableinfluenceofenvironingcauses；theimmenseroleofthosemyriadexternalcircumstancesonwhichLamarcksostronglyinsisted；buttheworkofthesefactorsis，inhiseyes，onlyaccessoryandwhollysecondaryintheeconomyofnature；andinanycaseitisfarfromexplainingthedefinitedirectionandthetranscendentharmonywhichcharacterizeevolution，bothinitstotalityandinitsmostinfinitesimaldetails。

Inoneofhisadmirablelittletextbooks，intendedtoteachandtopopularizescience，hecomplacentlyenumeratesthehappymodificationseffectedbythat“sublimemagician。”selectionasunderstoodbyDarwin。Heevokesthemetamorphosesofthepotato，which，onthemountainsofChili，ismerelyawretchedvenomoustubercle，andthoseofthecabbage，whichontherockyfaceofoceanicprecipicesisnothingbutaweed，“withatallstemandscantydisorderedleavesofacrudegreen，anacridsavour，andaranksmell“；hespeaksofwheat，formerlyapoorunknowngrass；theprimitivepear-tree“anuglyintractablethornybush，withdetestablebitterfruit“；thewildcelery，whichgrowsbesideponds，“greenallover，hard，witharepulsiveflavour，andwhichgraduallybecomestenderer，sweeter，whiter。”and“ceasestodistilitspoison。”(9/2。)

Withprofoundexactitudethisgreatbiologisthasalsoperceivedthedegreetowhichsizemaybemodified；maydwindletodwarfnesswhenaniggardlysoilrefusestofurnishbeastandplantalikewithasufficientnourishment。

Withoutanycommunicationwiththeotherscientistswhowereoccupiedbythesamequestions，knowingnothingoftheresultswhichtheseexperimentershadattainedinthecaseofsmallmammiferousanimals，andwhichprovethatdwarfnesshasoftennoothercausethanphysiologicalpoverty，heconfirmedandexpandedtheirideasfromanentomologicalpointofview。(9/3。)

Scarcelyever，indeed，washefirstinspiredbythedoingsofothersinthisorthatdirection；hereadscarcelyanything，andnaturewashissoleteacher。Heconsideredthattheknowledgetobeobtainedfrombooksisbutsomuchvapourcomparedwiththerealities；heborrowedonlyfromhimself，andresorteddirectlytothefactsasnaturepresentedthem。Onehasonlytoseehisscantylibraryofoddvolumestobeconvincedhowlittleheowestoothers，whetherwritersorworkers。

Atruenaturalistphilosopher，thisprofoundobserverhasalsothrownalightuponcertainsingularanomalieswhich，intheinsectworld，seemtoconstituteanexception，atalleventsinourEurope，tothegeneralrules。

Itisnotonlytothecuriosityandfortheamusementofentomologiststhatheproposesthesecuriousanatomicalproblems，butalso，andchiefly，totheDarwinianwisdomoftheevolutionists。

Why，forexample，istheScarabaeussacerbornandwhydoesitremainmaimedallitslife；thatistosay，deprivedofallthedigitsontheanteriorlimbs？

“Ifitistruethateverychangeintheformofanappendageisonlythesignofahabit，aspecialinstinct，oramodificationintheconditionsoflife，thetheoryofevolutionshouldendeavourtoaccountforthismutilation，forthesecreaturesare，likeallothers，constructedonthesameplanandprovidedwithabsolutelythesameappendages。”

TheposteriorlimbsoftheGeotrupesstercorarius，“perfectlydevelopedintheadult，areatrophiedinthelarvae，reducedtomerespecks。”

Thegeneralhistoryofthespecies，ofitsmigrationsanditschanges，willdoubtlessonedaythrowlightuponthesestrangeinfirmities，heretemporaryandtherepermanent，whichmayperhapsbeexplainedbyunforeseenencounterswithundiscoveredspecimens，strayedperhapsintodistantcountries。(9/4。)

WhatinvaluabledocumentsfortheentomologistandthehistorianoftheevolutionofthespeciesarethosemultipleandfabulousmetamorphosesoftheSitaresandtheMelo？daewhichthisindefatigableinquirerhasrevealedinalltheirastonishingphases！

Oneofthefinestexamplesofscientificinvestigationisthepursuit，throughaperiodoftwenty-fiveyears，withasagacitywhichseemstoborderondivination，ofthisproblemofHYPER-METAMORPHOSIS。Thelarvaeofthosecoleopterawhichwehaveseenintroduced，withinfernalcunning，intothecellsoftheAnthophora(SeeChapter8above。)，suffernolessthanfourmoultsbeforetheybecomenymphs。

Thesemerelyexternaltransformations，whichinvolveonlytheenvelope，andrespecttheinternalstructure，correspondeachwithachangeofenvironmentandofdiet。Eachtimetheorganismadaptsitselftoitsnewmodeofexistence，“asperfectlyaswhenitbecomesadult“；andweseetheinsect，whichwasclear-sighted，becomeblind；itlosesitsfeet，torecoverthemlater；itsslenderbodybecomesventripotent；hard，itgrowssoft；itsmandibles，atfirststeely，becomehollowedoutspoonwise，eachmodificationofconformationhavingitsmotiveinafreshmodificationoftheconditionsofthecreature’slife。

Howexplainthisstrangeevolutionofafourfoldlarvalexistence，thesesuccessiveappearancesoforgans，whichbecomeentirelyunlikewhattheywere，toservefunctionseachtimedifferent？