第4章

Whatisthereason，theintention，thehighlawwhichpresidesoverthesevisiblechanges，thesesuccessiveenvelopmentsofcreaturesonewithintheother，thesemultipletransfigurations？

BywhatbygoneadaptationshastheSitarissuccessivelyacquiredthesediverseextraordinaryphasesoflife，indicatingpossiblyforeachcorrespondingagesomeancientandremoteheredity？(9/5。)

Howmanyotherargumentsmightevolutionderivefromhisbooks，andwhatillustrationsoftheDarwinianphilosophyhasheunconsciouslyfurnished！

Doeshenotevenallowtheadmissiontoescapehimthat“thespiritofcunninganddeceptionistransmitted“？HeseesinthepersecutionsoftheDytiscus，the“pirateoftheponds。”theoriginofthefacultywhichthePhryganeahasofrefashioningitsshieldwhendemandedofit。“Toevadetheassaultofthebrigand，thePhryganeamusthastilyabandonitsmantle；itallowsitselftosinktothebottom，andpromptlyremovesitself；necessityisthemotherofinvention。”(9/6。)

ReturningtothelacunaewhichitsoamazesFabretodiscoverinourorganization，eveninthemostperfectofus，aretheyfundamentallyveryreal？Thesemysteriousandunknownsenseswhichhehassogreatlycontributedtoelucidateinthecaseoftheinferiorspecies：why，heasks，havewenotinheritedthem，ifwearetrulythefinaltermandthesupremegoalofcreation？

Butincultivatingourintuition，asBergsoninvitesustodo，woulditbeimpossibletore-awaken，deepwithinus，thesestrangefaculties，whichperhapsareonlyslumbering？Whatofthatspeciesofindefinablememorywhichpermitstheredant，theBembex，theCerceris，thePompilus，theChalicodomaandsomanyothersto“findthemselves。”toorientatethemselveswithinfalliblecertaintyandincredibleaccuracy？Isitnottobefound，accordingtotravellers，inthosemenwhohaveremainedclosetonatureandaccustomedfromtheirremotestoriginstolistentothesilenceofthegreatdeserts？

Finally，theevolutionists，who“reconstructtheworldinimagination。”andwhoseeintherelationshipofneighbouringspeciesaproofofdescentorderivation，andawholeidealseries，willnotfailtoperceivethroughouthiswork，intheelementaryoperationsoftheEumenesandtheOdynerus，cousinsoftheCerceris，whichstingtheirpreyinplacesasyetilldetermined，notindeedsomanyisolatedattempts，butanincompleteprocessofinvention，anattemptatproceduresstillinthefactofformation：inaword，thebirthofthatmarvellousinstinctwhichendsinthetranscendentartoftheSphexandtheAmmophila。

Althoughtheyhaveacquiredsuchprodigiousdeftness，thesemasterparalysersarenot，infact，alwaysinfallible。OccasionallytheSphexblundersandgropes，“operatesclumsily“；thecricketrevives，getsuponitsfeet，turnsroundandround，andtriestowalk。But，inquiresFabre，doyousaythathavingprofitedbyafortuitousact，whichhasturnedouttobefavourabletothem，theyhaveperfectedthemselvesbycontactwiththeirelders，“thankstotheimitationofexample。”andthattheyhavethuscrystallizedtheirexperiences，whichhavebeentransmittedbyheredity——

therebyfixedintherace？(9/7。)

Howmuchweshouldpreferthatitwereso！Howmuchmorecomprehensibleandinterestingtheirlifewouldbecome！

But“whenthehymenopteronbreaksitscocoon，whereareitsmasters！Itspredecessorshavelongagodisappeared。Howthencanitreceiveeducationbyexample？“

Youwho“shapetheworldtoyourwhim。”youwillreply：“Doubtlesstherearenolongermastersto-day；butgobacktothefirstagesoftheglobe，whentheworldinitsnewness，asLucretiushassosuperblysaid，asyetknewneitherbittercoldnorexcessiveheat(9/8。)；aneternalspringtidebathedtheearth，andtheinsects，notdying，asto-day，atthefirsttouchoffrost，twosuccessivegenerationslivedsidebyside，andtheyoungergenerationcouldprofitatleisurebythelessonsofexample。”(9/9。)

LetusreturntoFabre’slaboratory，tothecoversofwire-gauze，andnotewhatbecomes，attheapproachofwinter，ofthesurvivorsofthevespinecity。

Inthemildandcomfortableretreatwherethewaspsarekeptunderobservationtheydienoless，despitetheirwell-beingandallthecareexpendedonthem，whenonce“theinexorablehour“hasstruck，andoncetheexactcapitaloflifewhichseemstohavebeenimpartedtothemagesagoisexhausted。Withnoapparentcause，weseedeathbusyamongthem。“Suddenlythewaspsbegintofallasthoughstruckbylightning；forafewmomentstheabdomenquiversandthelegsgesticulate，thenfinallyremaininert，likeaclockworkmachinewhosespringhasrundowntothelastcoil。”

(9/10。)Thislawisgeneral；“theinsectisbornorphanedbothofmotherandfather，exceptingthesocialinsect，andagainexceptingthedung-

beetle，whichdiesfullofdays。”(9/11。)

Moreover，Fabreisneverwearyofdemonstratingthattheinsect，perfectlyunconsciousofthemotivewhichmakesitact，thistherebyincapableofprofitingbythelessonsofexperienceandofinnovationinitshabits，beyondaverynarrowcircle。“Noapprentices，nomasters。”Inthisworldeachobeys“theinnervoice“onitsownaccount；eachsetsitselftoaccomplishitstask，notonlywithouttroublingastowhatitsneighbourisdoing，butwithoutthinkinganyfurtherastowhatitisdoingitself；

instancetheEpe？ra，turningitsbackonitswork，yet“thelatterproceedsofitself，sowellisthemechanismdevised“；andifbyillchancethespideractedotherwiseitwouldprobablyfail。

DarwinknewbarelythetenthpartofthecolossalworkofFabre。Hehadreadfirstlyinthe“AnnalsofNaturalScience“ofthehabitsoftheCercerisandthefabuloushistoryoftheMeloidae。Finallyhesawthefirstvolumeofthe“Souvenirs“appear，andwasinterestedinthehighestdegreebythebeautifulstudyonthesenseoflocationanddirectionintheMason-

bees。

Thiswasalreadymorethanenoughtoexcitehiscuriosityandtomakehimwonderwhetherallhisphilosophywouldnotstumbleoverthisobstacle。

Afterhavingsucceededinexplainingsoluminously——andwithwhataloftypurview——theoriginofspeciesandthewholeconcatenationofanimalforms，woulditnotbeasthoughhehaltedmidwayinhistaskwerethesanctuaryoftheoriginofinstincttoremainforeverinscrutable？

FabrehadnotyetleftOrangewhenDarwinengagedinacuriouscorrespondencewhichlasteduntiltheformerhadbeennearlytwoyearsatSérignan，andwhichshowedhowpassionatelyinterestedthegreattheoristofevolutionwasinalltheFrenchman’ssurprisingobservations。

ItseemsthatonhissideFabretookasingularinterestinthediscussiononaccountoftheabsolutesincerity，theobviousdesiretoarriveatthetruth，andalsotheardentinterestinhisownstudies，ofwhichDarwin’sletterswerefull。HeconceivedaveritableaffectionforDarwin，andcommencedtolearnEnglish，thebettertounderstandhimandtoreplymoreprecisely；andadiscussiononsuchasubjectbetweenthesetwogreatminds，whowere，apparently，adversaries，butwhohadconceivedaninfiniterespectforoneanother，promisedtobeprodigiouslyinteresting。

Unhappilydeathwassoontoputanendtoit，andwhenthesolitaryofDownexpiredin1882thehermitofSérignansalutedhisgreatshadewithrealemotion。HowmanytimeshaveIheardhimrenderhomagetothisillustriousmemory！

Butthefurrowwastraced；thenceforthFabreneverceasedtomultiplyhispin-pricksin“thevastandluminousballoonoftransformism(evolution)，inordertoemptyitandexposeitinallitsinanity。”(9/12。)Bynomeanstheleastoriginalfeatureofhisworkisthispassionateandincisiveargument，inwhich，witharemarkablepowerofdialectic，andattimesinatoneoflivelybanter，heendeavouredtoremove“thiscomfortablepillowfromthosewhohavenotthecouragetoinquireintoitsfundamentalnature。”Heattackedthese“adventuroussyntheses，thesesuperbandsupposedlyphilosophicdeductions。”allthemoreeagerlybecausehehimselfhadanunshakablefaithintheabsolutecertaintyofhisowndiscoveries，andbecauseheassertedtherealityofthingsonlyafterhehadobservedandre-observedthemtosatiety。

Thisiswhyhecaredsolittletoengageinargumentrelatingtohisownworks；hedidnotcarefordiscussion；hewasindifferenttothedailypress；heavoidedcriticismandcontroversy，andneverrepliedtotheattackswhichweremadeuponhim；herathertookpainstosurroundhimselfwithsilenceuntilthedaywhenhefeltthathisresearcheswereripeandreadyforpublicity。

HewrotetohisdearfriendDevillario，shortlyafterDarwin’sdeath：

“Ihavemadearuleofneverreplyingtotheremarks，whetherfavourableorthereverse，whichmywritingsmayevoke。Igomyowngait，indifferentwhetherthegalleryapplaudsorhisses。Toseekthetruthismyonlypreoccupation。Ifsomearedissatisfiedwiththeresultofmyobservations——

iftheirpettheoriesaredamagedthereby——letthemdotheworkthemselves，toseewhetherthefactstellanotherstory。Myproblemcannotbesolvedbypolemics；patientstudyalonecanthrowalittlelightonthesubject。(9/13。)

“Iamprofoundlyindifferenttowhatthenewspapersmaysayaboutme。”hewrotetohisbrotherseventeenyearslater；“itisenoughformeifIamprettywellsatisfiedwithmyownwork。”(9/14。)

Hereadallthelettershereceivedonlyinasuperficialmanner，neglectingtothankthosewhopraisedorcongratulatedhim，andaboveallshrinkingfromallthatidlecorrespondenceinwhichlifeiswastedwithoutaimorprofit。

“IfumeandswearwhenIhavetocutintomymorninginordertoreplytoso-and-sowhosendsme，inprintormanuscript，hismeedofpraise；ifI

werenotcarefulIshouldhavenotimeleftforfarmoreimportantwork。”

HisbelovedFrédéric，“thebestofhisfriends。”washimselfoftentreatednobetter，andtoexcusehissilenceandtheinfrequencyofhisletters，Henri，evenintheyearsspentatCarpentrasandAjaccio，couldpleadonlythesamereasons；hisstupendouslabours，hisexhaustingtask，“whichoverwhelmedhim，andwasoftentoogreat，notforhiscourage，butforhistimeandhisstrength。”(9/15。)

Nevertheless，whileevadingthequestionoforigins，hisfar-sightedintellectwasboundto“readfromthefacts“concerningthegenesisofnewspeciesinprocessofevolution；andhisobservationsthrowasingularlightonthequiterecenttheoryofsuddenmutations。

ThenymphoftheOnthophaguspresents“astrangeparaphernaliaofhornsandspurswhichtheorganismhasproducedinamomentofardour——aluxuriouspanoplywhichvanishesintheadult。”

ThenymphoftheOniticellaalsodecksitselfin“atemporaryhorn，whichdepartswhenitemerges。”

And“asthedung-beetleisrecentinthegeneralchronologyofcreatures，asittakesrankamongthelastcomers，asthegeologicalstrataaremuteconcerningit，itispossiblethatthesehorn-likeprocesses，whichalwaysdegeneratebeforetheyreachcompletion，maybenotareminiscencebutapromise，agradualelaborationofneworgans，timidattemptswhichthecenturieswillhardentoacompletearmour，ANDIFTHISWERESOTHEPRESENT

WOULDTEACHUSWHATTHEFUTUREISTOBE。”(9/16。)

Hereisaspecifictransformation，averitablecreation；fortuitous，blind，andsilent；oneofthoseinnumerableattemptswhichnatureisalwaysmaking，forthemomentamerematterofhazard，untilsomepropitiouscircumstancefixesitinfutureincarnations。

Thusmillionsofindeterminatecreaturesareincessantlyroughedoutinthesubstanceofthatmicrocosmwhichistheinitialcell；anditisherethatFabreseestherealsecretofthelawofevolution。

HerefutesthegreatprincipleofLeibnitz，whichwassobrilliantlyadoptedbyDarwin，thatchangesoccurbydegrees，by“fineshades。”byslowvariations，astheresultofsuccessiveadaptations，andthatthereisnojumping-offplaceinnature。Onthecontrary，lifeoftenpassessuddenlyfromoneformtoanother，byabruptandcapriciousleaps，byirregularanddisorderlysteps，anditisintheeggthatFabreseesthefirstlineamentsofthesemysteriousandspontaneousvariations。

Speciesarethereforebornasawhole，eachatthesametime，ATTHESAME

MOMENT，“bringingintobeingitsneworganism，withitsindividualpropertiesandpeculiarities，itsindelibleandinnatefacultiesandtendencies，like“somanymedals，eachstruckwithadifferentdie，whichthegnawingtoothoftimeattacksonlysoonerorlatertoannihilateit。”

However，Fabreaffirmsthecontinuityofprogress；hebelievesinabetterandmoremercifulfuture，amorecompletehumanity，ruledbymoreharmoniousorlessbrutallaws。

Withwhatprofoundintelligenceandwhatgenerousenthusiasmheseekstoconjecturewhatthisfuturemightbe，inhisbeautifulobservationsontheyoungoftheLycosa(9/17。)，whichcanliveforweeksandmonthsinabsoluteabstinence，althoughwecanperceivenoreserveofnutriment！

Weknownoothersourcesofanimalactivitysavetheenergyderivedfromfood。Vegetablesdrawthematerialsoftheirnourishmentfromthesoilandtheair，andthesunlightisonlyanintermediarywhichenablestheplanttofixitscarbon。Theanimalspeciesinturnborrowtheelementsindispensabletotheirexistencefromthevegetableworld，orrestoretheirfleshandbloodwiththefleshandbloodofotheranimals。

NowtheyoungLycosae“arenotinertontheirmother’sback；iftheyfallfromthematernalchinetheyquicklypickthemselvesupandclimbuponeofherlegs，andoncebackinplacetheyhavetopreservetheequilibriumofthemass。Inrealitytheyknownosuchthingascompleterepose。WhatthenistheenergeticalimentwhichenablesthelittleLycosaetostruggle？

Whenceistheheatexpendedinactionderived？“

Fabreseesnoothersourcethan“thesun。”

“Everyday，iftheskyisclear，theLycosa，loadedwithherlittleones，crawlstotheedgeofherwell，andforlonghoursliesinthesun。There，onthematernalback，theyoungonesstretchthemselvesout，saturatethemselvesinthesunshine，chargingthemselveswithmotorreserves，steepingthemselvesinenergy，directlyconvertingintomovementthecalorificradiationscomingfromthesun，thecentreofalllife。”

TheScorpionalsoisabletoliveformonthswithoutnourishment，restoringdirectly，intheformofmovement，“theeffluviaemanatingfromthesunorfromotherambientenergies——heat，electricity，light——whicharethesouloftheworld。”

Perhaps，amongtheinnumerableworldsofspace，thereissomewhere，gravitatingroundafixedstar，aplanetinvisibletouswhere“thesunlightsatesthehungeroftheblind。”

Thegentlephilosophyoftheingeniousdreamersoothesitselfwiththevision，entertainedbygreatandnobleminds，ofahumanity“whoseteethwillnolongerattacksensiblelife，noreventhepulpoffruits“；“whencreatureswilldevouroneanothernolonger，willnolongerfeeduponthedead；whentheywillbenourishedbythesunlight，withoutconflict，withoutwar，withoutlabour；freedfromallcare，andassuredagainstallneeds！“

Thus，inthehumblestcreatures，heseesthemostmarvellousperspectives；

thebodyofthelowestinsectbecomessuddenlyatranscendentsecret，lightinguptheabyssofthehumansoul，orgivingitaglimpseofthestars。

Andalthoughhisworkisincontradictiontothetheoriesoftheevolutionists，itendswiththesamemoralconclusion，namely，thatallcreationmovesslowlyandwithoutintermissiononitsgradualascenttowardsprogress。

CHAPTER10。THEANIMALMIND。

Thecunninganatomisthasnowsuccessivelylaidbareallthespringsoftheanimalintellect；hehasshownhowthevariousmovementsaremutuallycombinedandengaged。Butsofarwehaveseenonlyoneofthefacesofthelittlemindoftheanimal；letusnowconsidertheotheraspect，themoralside，theregionoffeeling，theproblemofwhichisconfoundedwiththeproblemofinstinct，andisdoubtlessfundamentallyonlyanotheraspectofthesameelementalpower。

Aftertheconflicttheinsectmanifestsitsdelight；itseemssometimestoexultinitstriumph；“besidethecaterpillarwhichithasjuststabbedwithitssting，andwhichlieswrithingontheground。”theAmmophila“stamps，gesticulates，beatsherwings。”capersabout，soundingvictoryinanintoxicationofdelight。

ThesenseofpropertyexistsinahighdegreeamongtheMason-bees；withthemrightcomesbeforemight，and“theintruderisalwaysfinallydislodged。”(10/1。)

Butcanwefindintheinsectanythinganalogoustowhatwetermdevotion，attachment，affectionatefeeling？Therearefactswhichleadustobelievewemay。

LetusgooncemoreintoFabre’sgardenandadmiretheThomisus：absorbedinhermaternalfunction，thelittlespiderlyingflatonhernestcanstrivenolongerandiswastingaway，butpersistsinliving，mereruinthatsheis，inordertoopenthedoortoherfamilywithonelastbite。

Feelingunderthesilkenroofheroffspringstampingwithimpatience，butknowingthattheyhavenotstrengthtoliberatethemselves，sheperforatesthecapsule，makingasortofpracticableskylight。Thisdutyaccomplished，shequietlysurrenderstodeath，stillgrappledtohernest。

ThePsyche，dominatedbyakindofunconsciousnecessity，protectshernurserybymeansofherbody，anchorsherselfuponthethreshold，andperishesthere，devotedtoherfamilyevenindeath。

However，Fabrewillshowuswithinfalliblelogicthatalltheseinstancesofforesightandmaternaltendernesshave，asarule，noothermotivethanpleasureandtheblindimpulsewhichurgestheinsecttofollowonlythefatalpathofitsinstincts。

Inmanyspeciesthematerialfactofmaternityisreducedtoitssimplestexpression。

ThePierislimitsherselftodepositinghereggsontheleavesofthecabbage，“onwhichtheyoungmustthemselvesfindfoodandshelter。”

“FromtheheightofthetopmostclustersofthecentaurytheClythrisnegligentlyletshereggsfalltotheground，onebyone，hereorthereathazard；withouttheleastcareastotheirinstallation。

“TheeggsoftheLocustidaeareimplantedintheearthlikeseedsandgerminatelikegrain。”

ButstopbeforetheLycosa，thatmagnificenttypeofmaternallovewhichFabrehasalreadydepicted。“Shebroodsoverhereggswithanxiousaffection。Withthehinderclawsrestingonthemarginofthewellsheholdsherselfsupportedabovetheopeningofthewhitesac，whichisswollenwitheggs。Forseverallongweekssheexposesittothesunduringhalftheday。Gentlysheturnsitaboutinordertopresenteverysidetothevivifyinglight。Thebird，inordertohatchhereggs，coversthemwiththedownofherbreast，andpressesthemagainstthatlivingcalorifer，herheart。TheLycosaturnshersaboutbeneaththefiresofheaven；shegivesthemthesunforincubator。”(10。2。)Couldabnegationbemoreperfect？Whatgreaterproofcouldtherebeofrenunciationandself-oblivion？

Butappearancesarevain。Substituteforthebelovedsacsomeotherobject，andthespider“willturnabout，withthesamelove，asthoughitwerehersacofeggs，apieceofcork，apincushion，oraballofpaper。”justasthehen，anothervictimofthissublimedeception，willgiveallherhearttohatchingthechinanest-eggswhichhavebeenplacedbeneathher，andforweekswillforgettofeed。

Theyoungbroodhatches，andthespidergoesa-hunting，carryingherlittleonesonherback；sheprotectsthemincaseofdanger，butisincapableofrecognizingthemorofdistinguishingthemfromtheyoungofothers。TheCoprisandtheScorpionarenolessblind，“andtheirmaternaltendernessbarelyexceedsthatoftheplant，which，astrangertoanysenseofaffectionormorality，nonethelessexercisesthemostexquisitecareinrespectofitsseeds。”

Moreover，theimpulsetoworkisonlyakindofunconsciouspleasure。WhenthePelopaeus“hasstoredherlairwithgame。”whentheCercerishassealedthecrypttowhichshehasconfidedthefutureofherrace，neitheronenortheothercanforesee“thefutureoffspringwhichtheirfacetedeyeswillneverbehold，andtheveryobjectoftheirlaboursistothemoccult。”

Withthem，aswithall，lifecanonlybeaperpetualillusion。

Yetthemarvellousedificeofthe“Souvenirsentomologiques“isconsummatedbytheastonishinghistoryoftheMinotaur，whosehabitssurpassinidealbeautyallthatcouldbeimagined。

Atthebottomofaburrow，inadeeplysunkenvault，twodung-beetlesareatwork，theMinotaurs，who，onceunited，recognizeoneanother，andcanfindoneanotheragainifseparated，butdonotvoluntarilyseparate，realizing“themoralbeautyofthedoublelife“and“thetouchingconceptofthefamily，thesacredgroupparexcellence。”Themaleburieshimselfwithhiscompanion，remainsfaithfultoher，comestoherassistance，and“storesuptreasureforthefuture。Neverdiscouragedbytheheavylabourofclimbing，leavingtothemotheronlythemoremoderatelabour，keepingtheseverestforhimself，theheavytaskoftransportinanarrowtunnel，verydeepandalmostvertical，hegoesforaging，forgetfulofhimself，heedlessoftheintoxicatingdelightsofspring，thoughitwouldbesogoodtoseesomethingofthecountry，tofeastwithhisbrothers，andtopestertheneighbours；butno！hecollectsthefoodwhichistonourishhischildren，andthen，whenallisreadyforthenew-comers，whentheirlivingisassured，havingspenthimselfwithoutcountingthecost，exhaustedbyhisefforts，andfeelinghimselffailing，heleaveshishomeandgoesawaytodie，thathemaynotpollutethedwellingwithacorpse。”

Themother，onherside，allowsnothingtodivertherfromherhousehold，andonlyreturnstothesurfacewhenaccompaniedbyheryoung，whodisperseatwill。Then，havingnothingmoretodo，thedevotedcreatureperishesinturn。(10/3。)

ComparedwiththeScarabaeus，whichcontentsitselfwithidlewandering，orevenwiththemeritoriousSisyphus，doesitnotseemthattheMinotaurmovesonaninfinitelyhigherplane？

Whatnoblercouldbefoundamongourselves？Whatfathereverbettercomprehendedhisdutiesandobligationstowardhisfamily？Whatmoralitycouldbemoreirreproachable；whatfairerexamplecouldbemeditated？

“Isnotlifeeverywherethesame，inthebodyofthedung-beetleasinthatofman？Ifweexamineitintheinsect，dowenotexamineitinourselves？“

WhencedoestheMinotaurderivetheseparticulargraces？Howhasitrisentosohighalevelonthewingsofpureinstinct？Howcouldweexplaintherarityofsosublimeanexample，didwenotknow，tosatiety，that“natureeverywhereisbutanenigmaticpoem，aswhoshouldsayaveiledandmistypicture，shiningwithaninfinitevarietyofdeceptivelightsinordertoevokeourconjectures“？(10/4。)

Nevertheless，itisafactthatthemajorityhavenootherruleofconductthantofollowthetrendoftheirinstincts，andtoobey“theirunbridleddesires。”NoonebetterthanFabrehasexpoundedtheblindoperationoftheselittlenaturalforces，thebrutalityoftheirmanners，theircannibalism，andwhatwemightcalltheiramorality，wereitpossibletoemployourhumanformulaeoutsideourownhumanworld。

Withthegardener-beetles，ifoneiscrippled，noneofthesameracehaltsorlingers；noneattemptstocometohisaid。Sometimesthepassers-byhastentotheinvalidtodevourhim。”

Intherepublicofthewasps“thegrubsrecognizedasincurablearepitilesslytornfromtheirplaceanddraggedoutofthenest。Woetothesick！theyarehelplessandatonceexpelled。”

Whenthewintercomesallthelarvaearemassacred，andthewholevespinecityendsinahorribletragedy。

Butlifeisawhole，andallconductisgoodwhoseactionsrealizeanobjectandareadaptedtoanend。Ifthereisa“spirit“ofthehive，theinsectalsohasitsmoralityandthewasp’snestits“law。”andtheconductofitsinmates，horriblethoughitmayseemtoFabre，isdoubtlessonlyasubmissiontocertainexigenciesofthatuniversallawwhichmakesnaturea“savagefoster-motherwhoknowsnothingofpity。”

Thesecrueltiesparticularlyshowusthatoneofthefunctionsoftheinsectinnatureistopresideoverthedisappearanceandalsotheultimatemetamorphosesoftheleast“remnantsoflife。”

Eachhasitsprovidentialhygienicfunction。

TheNecrophori，“thefirstofthetinyscavengersofthefields。”burycorpsesinordertoestablishtheirprogenyinthem；inthespaceofafewhoursanenormousbody，amole，awater-rat，oranadder，willcompletelydisappear，buriedundertheearth。

TheOnthophagipurifythesoil，“dividingallfilthintotinycrumbs，riddingtheearthofitsdefilements。”

Averysmallbeetle，theTrox，hastheimprescriptiblemissionofpurgingtheearthoftherabbits’furrejectedbythefox。(10/5。)

Herestructureexplainsthefunction。

Theintestineofthegruboftherose-beetle“isaveritabletrituratingmill，whichtransformsvegetablematterintomould；inamonthitwilldigestavolumeofmatterequaltoseveralthousandtimestheinitialvolumeofthegrub。”

TheintestineoftheScarabaeiisprolongedtoaprodigiouslengthinorderto“draintheexcrementtothelastatominitsmanifoldcircuits。Thesheephasfinelydividedthevegetablematter；thegrub，thatincomparabletriturator，reducesittothefinestpossibleconsistency；notamorselisleftinwhichthemagnifyingglasscanrevealafibre。”

Tofulfilitshygienicmissiontheinsectarrivesindueseason，andmultipliesitslegions；“therearetwentythousandeggsintheflanksofthehousefly；immediatelytheyarehatchedthesetwentythousandmaggotssettowork，sothatLinnaeushassaidthatthreeflieswouldsufficetodevourthebodyofahorseoralion。”

Feedingonlyuponwheat，asingleweevil，theCalendarbeetle，producestenthousandeggs，whenceissueasmanylarvae，eachofthemdevouringitsgrain。

Inallspeciesthenumberofbirthsisatfirstexaggerated，forall，theobscure，thenameless，themostdestructive，ourpestsaswellasourmostprecioushelpers，havetheirutilityandtheirparttoplayinthegeneralschemeoflife，araisond’êtreintheeternalrenewalofthings，whichiswithoutreferencetothevexatiousorbeneficentqualityoftheirbehaviourtous。

Eachhasitsrankassigned，eachhasitstask，toonetheflower，toanothertheroots，toathirdtheleaves；thevinehasitscaterpillars，itsbeetles，itsbutterflies；theclover，itsmothsandmites。(10/6。)

Manseeshimselfforcedtosubmittothem，andspendshimselfinvaineffortstocarryonanoftenuselesscampaign。Nothingseemstoaffectthem，neitherdrought，norrain，noreventheseverestcold；andtheeggsandlarvae，organizationsapparentlydelicateintheextreme，areoftenmoretenaciousoflifethantheadults。Fabrehasprovedthis：letthetemperaturesuddenlyfalltwentydegrees：theeggsofGeotrupesandthelarvaeofthecockchaferortherose-beetleenduresuchvicissitudesoftemperaturewithimpunity；contractedandstiffenedintolittlemassesofice，butnotdestroyed，theyreviveinspringnolessthantheeelfry，therotifers，orthetardigrades。Onecanscarcelybelievethatlifestillpersistsinastateofsuspenseonlyintheselittlefrozencreatures，whoseorganizationisalreadysocomplicated。

Then，ofasudden，theravagersdisappear；moreoftenthannotnoneknowshoworwhy；deliveranceisathand。Whatindeedwouldbecomeoftheworldwerenothingtomoderatesuchfecundity？

Again，eachspecieshasitstrialswhichappearintimetomoderateitssurplusage，andFabreexpoundsforus，withasternphilosophy，theterribledevicesbywhichthisrepressioniseffected。

Eachhasitsappointedenemy，whichlivesuponitoritsoffspring，andwhichinturnbecomesthepreyofsomesmallercreature。Thegentleitself，“thekingofthedead。”hasitsparasites。WhileitswimsinthedeliquescenceofputrefyingfleshaminuteChalcidianperforatesitsskinwithanimperceptiblewound，andintroducesitsterribleeggs，whenceinthefuturewillissuelarvaewhichto-morrowwilldevourthedevourersofto-day。

Noneexistssavetothedetrimentofothers。Everywhere，eveninthesmallest，wefind“anatrociousactivity，acunningbrigandage。”asavageextermination，whichdominatesavastunconsciousworldofwhichthefinalresultistherestorationofequilibrium。(10/7。)Itisonlyontheseantagonisms，ontheenemiesofourenemies，thatwecanfoundanyhopeofseeingthisorthatpestdisappear。AsmallHymenopteron，almostinvisible，theMicrogasterglomeratus，isentrustedwiththedestructionofthecabbagecaterpillar；thecochinealwageswartothedeathuponthegreen-

fly；theAmmophilaisthepredestinedmurdereroftheharvestNoctuela，whosemisdeedsinabeetrootcountryoftenamounttoadisaster。TheOdynerushasforitsinstinctivemissiontoarresttheexcessivemultiplicationofalucerneweevil，nolessthantwenty-fourofwhosegrubsarenecessarytoreartheoffspringofthebrigand，andnearlysixtygadfliesaresacrificedtothegrowthofasingleBembex。

Everywherecraftisorganizedtotriumphoverforce。Aroundeachnesttheparasiteslieinwait，“atrociousassassinsofthechildinthecradle，watchingatthedoorsforthefavourableoccasiontoestablishtheirfamilyattheexpenseofothers。Theenemypenetratesthemostinaccessiblefortress；eachhasitstacticsofwar，devisedwithaterribleart。Ofthenestandthecocoonofthevictimtheintrudermakesitsownnest，itsowncocoon，andinthefollowingyear，insteadofthemasterofthehouse，hewillemergefromundergroundastheusurpingbandit，thedevoureroftheinhabitant。”

Whilethecicadaisabsorbedinlayinghereggsaninsignificantflylabourstodestroythem。Howexpressthecalmaudacityofthispigmy，followingcloselyafterthecolossus，stepbystep；severalatoncealmostunderthetalonsofthegiant，whichcouldcrushthemmerelybytreadingonthem？Butthecicadarespectsthem，ortheywouldlongagohavedisappeared。”(10/8。)

FabrethusagreeswithPasteur，whointheworldoftheinfinitelylittleshowsusthesameantagonisms，thesamevitalcompetition，thesameeternalmovementoffluxandreflux，thesamewhirlpooloflife，whichisextinguishedonlytoreappear：tendingalwaystowardsanequilibriumwhichisincessantlydestroyed。Anditisthankstothisbalancingthattheintegralofliferemainseverywhereandalwaysalmostidenticalwithitself。

CHAPTER11。HARMONIESANDDISCORDS。

Suchindeedistheeconomyofnaturethatsecretrelationsandastonishingconcordancesexistthroughoutthewholevastweftofthings。Therearenolooseends；everythingisconsequentandordered。Hiddenharmoniesmeetandmingle。

Amongtheterebinthlice，“whenthepopulationismature，thegallisripealso，sofullydothecalendarsoftheshrubandtheanimalcoincide“；andthemortalenemyoftheHalictus，thesinistermidgeofthespringtime，ishatchedattheverymomentwhenthebeebeginstowanderinsearchofalocationforitsburrows。

ThefantastichistoryofthelarvaeoftheAnthraxfurnishesuswithoneofthemostsuggestiveexamplesofthesestrangecoincidences。(10/9。)

TheAnthraxisablackfly，whichsowsitseggsonthesurfaceofthenestsoftheMason-bee，whoselarvaeareatthemomentreposingintheirsilkencocoons。

“ThegruboftheAnthraxemergesandcomestolifeunderthetouchofthesunlight。Itscradleistheruggedsurfaceofthecell；itiswelcomedintotheworldbyaliterallystonyharshness……Obstinatelyitprobesthechinksandporesofthenest；glidesoverit，crawlsforward，returns，andrecommences。Theradicleofthegerminatingseedisnotmorepersevering，notmoredeterminedtodescendintothecooldampearth。Whatinspirationimpelsit？Whatcompassguidesit？Whatdoestherootknowofthefertilityofthesoil？……Thenurseling，theseedoftheAnthrax，isbarelyvisible，almostescapingthegazeofthemagnifyingglass；amereatomcomparedtothemonstrousfoster-motherwhichitwilldraintotheveryskin。Itsmouthisasucker，withneitherfangsnorjaws，incapableofproducingthesmallestwound；itsucksinplaceofeating，anditsattackisakiss。”Itpractises，inshort，amostastonishingart，“anothervariationofthemarvellousartoffeedingonthevictimwithoutkillingituntiltheendofthemeal，inorderalwaystohaveastoreoffreshmeat。DuringthefourteendaysthroughwhichthenourishmentoftheAnthraxcontinues，theaspectofthelarvaremainsthatoflivingflesh；untilallitssubstancehasbeenliterallytransferred，byakindoftranspiration，tothebodyofthenurseling，andthevictim，slowlyexhausted，drainedtothelastdrop，whileretainingtotheendjustenoughlifetoproverefractorytodecomposition，isreducedtothemereskin，which，beinginsufflated，puffsitselfoutandresumesthepreciseformofthelarva，therebeingnowhereapointofescapeforthecompressedair。”

NowthegruboftheAnthrax“appearspreciselyattheexactmomentwhenthelarvaoftheChalicodomaisattackedbythatlethargywhichprecedesmetamorphosis，andwhichrendersitinsensible，andduringwhichthesubstanceofthegrubabouttobetransfiguredintoabeecommencestobreakdownandresolveitselfintoaliquidpulp，fortheprocessesoflifealwaysliquefythegrubbeforeachievingtheperfectinsect。”(11/2。)

Hereagainthetime-tablescoincide。

ButitisperhapsinthecelebratedOdysseyofthegruboftheSitaristhatFabremosturgentlyclaimsouradmirationforthemarvellousandincomprehensiblewisdomoftheUnconscious！

Letusrecapitulatetheunheard-ofseriesofevents，theinextricablecomplicationofcircumstances，whicharerequiredtoconditionthelowlylifeofaSitaris。

Inthefirstplace，thismicroscopiccreaturemustbeprovidedwithtalons，orhowcoulditadheretothefleeceoftheAnthophora，onwhichitmustliveasparasiteforacertainlengthoftime？

Thenagain，itmusttransferitselffromthemaletothefemalebeeinthecourseofitstravelsabroad，oritsdestinywouldbecutshort。

Again，itmustnotmisstheopportunityofembarkingitselfupontheeggjustatthepropitiousmoment。

Thenthevolumeofthiseggmustbesocalculatedastorepresentanallowanceoffoodexactlyproportionedtothedurationofthefirstphaseofitsmetamorphosis。Moreover，thequantityofhoneyaccumulatedbythebeemustsufficeforthewholeoftheremainingcycleofitslarvalexistence。

Letasinglelinkofthechainbebroken，andtheentirespeciesoftheSitarisisnolongerpossible。

Ifeveryspecieshasitslaw；iftheGeotrupesremainfaithfultofilth，althoughexperienceshowsthattheycanaccommodatethemselvesequallywelltotheputrefactionofdecayedleaves；ifthepredatoryspecies——theCerceris，theSphex，theAmmophila——resortonlytoonespeciesofquarrytonourishtheirlarvae，althoughthesesamelarvaeacceptallindifferently，itisonaccountofthosesuperioreconomiclawsandsecretalliancestheprofoundreasonsforwhichasaruleescapeusorarebeyondthescopeofourtheories。

Forallthingsareproducedandinterlockedbytheeternalnecessity；linkengagesinlink，andlifeisonlyaplexusofsolitaryforcesalliedamongthemselvesbytheirverynature，theconditionofwhichisharmony。Andthewholesystemoflivingcreaturesappearstous，throughtheworkofthegreatnaturalist，asanimmenseorganism，asortofvastphysiologicalapparatus，ofwhichallthepartsaremutuallyinterdependent，andasnarrowlycontrolledasallthecellsofthehumanbody。

Fabregoesontopresentuswithotherfacts，whichatafirstglanceappearhighlyimmoral；Iamreferringtocertainphasesofsexualloveamongtheloweranimals，andhisghoulishrevelationsconcerningthehorriblebridalsoftheArachnoids，theMillepoda，andtheLocustidae。

TheDecticussurrendersonlytoasingleexploitoflove；avictimofits“strangegenesics“；utterlyexhaustedbythefirstembrace，empty，drained，extenuated，motionlessinallitsmembers，utterlywornout，itquicklysuccumbs，amerebrokensimulacrum，likethemiserableloverofamonstroussuccubuswho“loveshimenoughtodevourhim。”(11/3。)

Thefemalescorpiondevoursthemale；“allisgonebutthetail！“

ThefemaleSpiderdelightsinthefleshofherlover。

Thecricketalsodevoursasmallportionofher“debonair“admirer。

TheEphippigera“excavatesthestomachofhercompanionandeatshim。”

Butthehorrorofthesenuptialtragediesissurpassedbytheinsatiablelust，themonstrousconjunction，thebestialdelightsoftheMantis，that“ferociousspectre，neverweariedofembraces，munchingthebrainsofitsspouseattheverymomentofsurrenderingherflankstohim。”(11/4。)

Whencethesestrangediscords，thesefrightfulappetites？

Fabrerefersustotheremotestages，tothedepthsofthegeologicalnight，anddoesnothesitatetoregardthesecrueltiesas“remnantsofatavism。”thelingeringfuriesofanancientstrain，andheventuresaprofoundandplausibleexplanation。

TheLocusts，theCrickets，andtheScolopendraearethelastrepresentativesofaveryancientworld，ofanextinctfauna，ofanearlycreation，whoseperverseandunbridledinstinctsweregivenfreevent，whencreationwasasyetbutdimlyoutlined，“stillmakingtheearliestessaysofitsorganizingforces“；whentheprimitiveOrthoptera，“theobscureforebearsofthoseofto-day，were“sowingthewildoatsofafranticrut，“inthecolossalforestsofthesecondaryperiod；bythebordersofthevastlakes，fullofcrocodiles，andantediluvianmarshes，whichinProvencewereshadedbypalms，andstrangeferns，andgiantLycopodia，neverasyetenlivenedbythesongofabird。

Thesemonstrosities，inwhichlifewasmakingitsessays，weresubjecttosingularphysicalnecessities。Thefemalereignedalone；themaledidnotasyetexist，orwastoleratedonlyforthesakeofhisindispensableassistance。Butheservedalsoanotherandlessobviousend；hissubstance，oratleastsomeportionofhissubstance，wasanalmostnecessaryingredientintheactofgeneration，somethinginthenatureofanecessaryexcitantoftheovaries，“ahorribletitbit。”whichcompletedandconsummatedthegreattaskoffecundation。Such，inFabre’seyes，wastheimperiousphysiologicalreasonoftheserudelaws。Thisiswhytheloveofthemalesisalmostequivalenttotheirsuicide；theGardener-beetle，attackedbythefemale，attemptstoflee，butdoesnotdefendhimself；“itisasthoughaninvinciblerepugnancepreventshimfromrepulsingorfromeatingtheeater。”Inthesamewaythemalescorpion“allowshimselftobedevouredbyhiscompanionwithouteverattemptingtoemployhissting。”andtheloveroftheMantis“allowshimselftobenibbledtopieceswithoutanyrevoltonhispart。”

Astrangemorality，butnotmorestrangethantheorganicpeculiaritieswhichareitsfoundation；astrangeworld，butperhapssomedistantsunmaylightotherslikeit。

TheseterriblecreaturesareasourceofdismaytoFabre。IfallthingsproceedfromanunderlyingReason，ifthedivineharmonyofthingstestifieseverywheretoasovereignLogic，howshalltheproofsofitsexcellenceanditssovereignwisdombefoundinsuchthingsasthese？

Farfromattributingtotheorderoftheuniverseasupposedperfection，farfromconsideringnatureasthemostimmediateexpressionoftheGoodandtheBeautiful，inthewordsofTolstoy(11/5。)，heseesinitonlyaroughsketchwhichahiddenGod，hidden，butcloseathand，andlivingeternallypresentintheheartofHiscreatures，isseekingtotestandtoshape。

LivingalwayswithhiseyesuponsomesecretofthemarvelsofGod，whomheseesineverybush，ineverytree，“althoughHeisveiledfromourimperfectsenses“(11/6。)，thevilestinsectrevealstohim，intheleastofitsactions，afragmentofthisuniversalIntelligence。

Whatmarvelsindeedwhenseenfromabove！ButconsidertheReverse——whatantinomies，whatflagrantcontradictions！Whatpoorandsordidmeans！AndFabreisastonished，inspiteofallhiscandidfaith，thatthefatalityofthebellyshouldhaveenteredintotheDivineplan，andthenecessityofallthoseatrociousactsinwhichtheUnconsciousdelights。CouldnotGodensurethepreservationoflifebylessviolentmeans？Whythesesubterraneandramas，theseslowassassinations？WhyhasEvil，THEPOISONOF

THEGOOD(11/7。)，creptineverywhere，eventotheoriginoflife，likeaneternalParasite？

Withinthisfatalcircle，inwhichthedevourerandthedevoured，theexploiterandtheexploited，leadaneternaldance，canwenotperceivearayoflight？

Forwhatisitthatwesee？

Thevictimsarenotmerelythepredestinedvictimsoftheirpersecutors。

Theyseekneithertostrugglenortoescapenortoevadetheinevitable；

onemightsaythatbyakindofrenunciationtheyofferthemselvesupwholeasasacrifice！

Whatirresistibledestinyimpelsthebeetomeethalf-waythePhilanthus，itsterribleenemy！TheTarantula，whichcouldsoeasilywithstandthePompilus，whenthelatterrashlycarrieswarintoitslair，doesnotdisturbitself，andneverdreamsofusingitspoisonedfangs。NotlessabsoluteisthesubmissionofthegrasshopperbeforetheMantis，whichitselfhasitstyrant，theTachytes。

Similarlythosewhichhavereasontofearfortheiroffspring，ifnotforthemselves，donothingtoevadetheenemywhichwatchesforthem；theMegachile，althoughitcouldeasilydestroyit，isindifferenttothepresenceofamiserablemidge，“thebanditwhoisalwaysthere，meditatingitscrime“；theBembex，confrontedwiththeTachinarius，cannotcontrolitsterror，butneverthelessresignsitself，whilesqueakingwithfright。

IfeachcreatureiswhatitisonlybecauseitisanecessarypartoftheplanofthesupremeArtisanwhohasconstructedtheuniverse，whyhavesometherightoflifeanddeathandotherstheterribledutyofimmolation？

Donotbothobey，notthegloomylawofcarnage，butakindofsovereignandexquisitesacrifice，somesortofunconsciousideaofsubmissiontoasuperiorandcollectiveinterest？

Thishypothesis，whichwasonedaysuggestedtoFabrebyafriendofgreatintellectualculture(11/8。)，charmedandinterestedhimkeenly。Inoticedthathewasmorethanusuallyattentive，andheseemedtometobesuddenlyreassuredandappeased。Forhimitwasasthoughafaintrayoflighthadsuddenlyfallenamongtheseimpenetrableanddistressingproblems。

Itseemedtohimthatbysettingbeforeoureyesthespectacleofsomanywoes，universallydistributed，anddoubtlessnecessary，woeswhichdonotspareeventhehumblestofcreatures，theSovereignIntelligenceintendstoexhortustoexamineourselvestrulyandtodisposeustogreaterloveandpityandresignation。

Allhisworkishighlyandessentiallyreligious；andwhilehehasgivenusatastefornature，hehasnotalsoendeavouredtogiveus，accordingtotheexpressionofBossuet“thetasteforGod。”oratleastasenseofthedivine？Inopposingthedoctrineofevolution，whichreducestheanimalworldtothemerevirtualitiesofthecell；inrevealingtousallthesemarvelswhichseemdestinedalwaystoescapehumancomprehension；finally，byreferringusmorenecessarilythanevertotheunfathomableproblemofourorigins，Fabrehasreopenedthedoorofmystery，thedoorofthedivineUnknown，inwhichthereligionofmenmustalwaysrenewitself。Weshouldbelittlehisthought，weshoulddwarfthemanhimself，werewetoseektoconfinetoanyparticularthesishisspiritualisticconceptionoftheuniverse。

FabrerecognizesandadoresinnatureonlythegreateternalPower，whoseimprintiseverywhererevealedbythephenomenaofmatter。

Forthisreasonhehasallhisliferemainedfreefromallsuperstitionandhasbeencompletelyindifferenttodogmasandmiracles，whichtohismindimplynotonlyaprofoundignoranceofscience，butalsoagrossandcompletemiscomprehensionofthedivineIntelligence。Hekneelsuponthegroundoramongthegrassesonlythemorecloselytoadorethatforce，thesourceofallorder，theintuitiveknowledgeofwhich，innateinallcreatures，eveninthetinyimmovablemindsofanimals，ismerelyamagnificentandgratuitousgift。TheofficeinwhichheeagerlycommunicatesisthatgloriousandformidableMassinwhichtheraggedsower，“nobleinhistatters，apontiffinshabbysmall-clothes，solemnasaGod，blessesthesoil，moremajesticthanthebishopinhisgloryatEaster-tide。”(11/9。)Itistherethathefindshis“Ideal。”intheincenseoftheperfumes“whicharesoftlyexhaledfromtheshapelyflowers，fromtheircensersofgold。”intheheartofallcreatures，“chaffinchandsiskin，skylarkandgoldfinch，tinychoristers“pipingandtrilling，“elaboratingtheirmotets“tothegloryofHimwhogavethemvoiceandwingsonthefifthdayofGenesis。Hefraternizeswithall，withhisdogsandhiscats，histametortoise，andeventhe“slimyandswollenfrog“；the“Philosopher“oftheHarmas，whosemurkyeyeshelovestointerrogateashepaceshisgarden“bythelightofthestars“；persuadedthatallareaccomplishingausefulwork，andthatallcreatures，fromthehumblestinsectwhichhasonlynibbledaleaf，ordisplacedafewgrainsofsand，tomanhimself，areanointedwiththesamechrismofimmortality。

Andashehasalwayssetthepleasuresofstudybeforeallothers，hecanimaginenogreaterrecompenseafterdeaththantoobtainfromheavenpermissionstilltocontinueintheirmidst，duringeternity，hislifeoflabourandeffort。

CHAPTER12。THEINTERPRETATIONOFNATURE。

WehavenotedtheessentialfeaturesofhispreciseandunfailingvisionandthevalueofthedocumentswhichrecordtheworkofFabre，butthewritermeritsnolessattentionthantheobserverandthephilosopher。

Inthedomainofthingspositive，itisnotalwayssufficienttogatherthefacts，torecordthem，andtocodifyinbareformulaetheresultsofinquiry。Doubtlesseveryessentialdiscoveryisabletostandbyitself；inwhatwouldaninventorprofit，forexample，byraisinghimselftotheleveloftheartist？“Forthetheoremluciditysuffices；truthissuesnakedfromthebottomofawell。”

Butthemannerofspeaking，describing，anddepictingisnonethelessanintegralpartofthetruthwhenitisamatterofexpoundingandtransmittingthelatter。Toexpressitfeeblyisoftentocompromiseit，todiminishit；andeventobetrayit。Therearetermswhichsaybetterthanotherswhathastobesaid。“Wordshavetheirphysiognomy；iftherearelifelesswords，therearealsopicturesqueandrichly-colouredwords，comparabletothebrushstrokeswhichscatterflecksoflightonthegreybackgroundofthepicture。”Thereareparticulartermsofexpression，felicitieswhichpresentthingsinabetterlight，andthewritermustsearchinhismemory，hisimagination，andhisheart，forthefittingaccent；fortheflexibilityoflanguageandthewealthofwordswhichareneedfulifhewouldfullysucceedintheportrayaloflivingcreatures；ifhewouldtenderthelivingtruth，reproduceinallitslightandshadethespectacleoftheworld，arousetheimagination，andfaithfullyinterpretthemysteriousspiritwhichimpregnatesmatterandisreflectedinthought。

Theartistthencomesforwardtoco-ordinateallthesescatteredfragments，toassemblethem，tobreathevitalityintothem，torestoretheseinerttruthstolife。

ButwhatastrangemannerofworkingwasFabre’s；whatacuriousmethodofcomposition！Howeverfullofideashismindmightbe，hewasincapableofexpressingthemifheremainedinoneplaceandassumedtheordinarypreliminaryattitudeofamanpreparingtowrite。Seatedandmotionless，hislimbsatrest，peninhand，withablankpagebeforehim，itseemedtohimthatallhisfacultiesbecameofasuddenparalysed。Hemustfirstmoveabout；activityhelpedhimtopursuehisideas；itwasinactionthatherecoveredhisardouranduncoveredthesourcesofinspiration。Justasheneverobservedwithoutenthusiasm，sohefounditimpossibletowritewithoutexaltation，anditwaspreciselybecausehesoardentlylovedthetruththathefelthimselfcompelledtoshowitinallitsbeauty。

Movinglikeacircus-horseaboutthegreattableofhislaboratory，hewouldbegintotrampindefatigablyroundandround，sothathisstepshaveworninthetilesoftheflooranineffaceablerecordoftheconcentrictrackinwhichtheymovedincessantlyforthirtyyears。

Hismindwouldgrowclearandactiveashewalked，smokinghispipeand“usinghismarrow-bones。”(12/1。)Hewasalreadyatwork；hewas“hammering“hisfuturechaptersinhisbrain；fortheideawouldbeallthemorepreciseastheformwasmorefinishedandmoreirreproachable，morecloselyidentifiedwiththethought；hewouldwaituntilthewordquivered，palpitated，andlived；untilthetranscriptionwasnolongeranillusion，aphantom，avisiondevoidofreality，butafaithfulecho，asinceretranslation，afinishedinterpretation，reflectingentirethefundamentalessenceofthething；inaword，aworkofart，aparalleltonature。

Thenonlywouldhesitbeforethelittlewalnut-woodtable“spottedwithinkandscarredwithknife-cuts，justbigenoughtoholdtheinkstand，ahalfpennybottle，andhisopennotebook“：thatsamelittletableatwhich，inotherdays，byforceofmeditation，heachievedhisfirstdegrees。

Thenhewouldbegintowrite，“hispendippednotininkonly“butinhisheart’sblood(12/2。)；firstofallinordinaryrulednotebooksboundinblackcloth，inwhichhenoted，daybyday，hourbyhour，theobservationsofeverymoment，theresultsofhisexperiments，togetherwithhisthoughtsandreflections。Littlebylittlethosedocumentswouldcometogetherwhichelucidatedandcompletedoneanother，andatlastthebookwaswritten。

Thesenotebooks，thesecopiousrecords，areremarkablefortheregularityofthewritingandtheoftenimpeccablefinishofthefirstdraught。

Althoughhereandtherethesamedataaretranscribedseveraltimesinsuccession，andeachtimestruckthroughwithavigorousstrokeofthepen，therearewholepages，andmanypagestogether，withoutasingleerasure。

Thehandwriting，excessivelysmall——onemightthinkithadbeentracedbythefeetofafly——becomesinlateryearssominutethatonealmostneedsamagnifyingglasstodecipherit。

Thesenotebooksarenotthefinalmanuscript。Theentomologistwouldwriteanewandmoreperfectcopyonloosesheetsofpaper，makingonedraughtafteranother，patientlyfashioninghisstyleandpolishinghiswork，althoughmanypassageswereincludedwithoutrevisionastheywerewritteninthefirstinstance。

Thegreatestmagicianofmodernletters，versedinalltheartificesoftheFrenchlanguage，speakingonedayofFabreandhiswritings，madeinmyhearingtheassertionthathewasnot，properlyspeaking，anartist。Hemightwellbeagreatnaturalist，aveteranofscience，anobserverofgenius，buthewasbynomeansandwouldneverbeawriteraccordingtothecanonsofthecraft。

Buthowmanyothers，likehim，intheirtimeregardedas“pitiableinrespectoftheirlanguage。”charmusto-day，simplybecausetheyweregiftedwithimaginationandthepowerofgivinglifetotheirwork！(12/3。)

Totellthetruth，Fabreisabsolutelycarelessofallliteraryprocedure，andsolelypreoccupiedwithbringinghisstyleintoharmonywithhisthoughts；heisnotintheleastamanufacturerofliteraryphrases。Thereisnotraceofartisticwritinginhisbooks，anditisonlyhismanneroffeelingandofexpressinghimselfthatmakeshimsodeartous。

Whattouchesusinhimistheaccent，thesimplicity，themeasure，thegoodsense，andtheperfectequilibriumofeachofthesepages：simple，oftencommonplace，evenincorrectortrivial，butsoalive，sohuman，thatthebloodseemstoflowinthem。ItistheloverinFabrethatdrawsustohim；

nothingquitelikehisworkhasbeenseensincethedaysofJeandeLaFontaine。

Hehasliberatedscience；helaughsatthespecialistswhotakerefugebehindtheir“barbarianterminologies。”atthe“jargon“ofthose“whoseetheworldonlythroughthewrongendoftheglass“；attheexaggeratedimportancewhichtheyattributetoinsignificantdetails，thenarrownessofclassifications，andthechaosofsystems；allthatincoherent，remote，andinaccessiblescience，whichhe，onthecontrary，strivestorenderpleasantandattractive。

Thisiswhythegreatscientisthasendeavouredtospeaklikeotherpeople，preferring，totheharshconsonantsoftechnicalphraseswhichsound“likeinsults“orhavetheairof“amagicalinvocation，whichmakecertainscientificworksreadlikesomuchgibberish。”the“naiveandpicturesqueappellation，thefamiliar，trivialname，thepopular，livingtermwhichdirectlyinterpretstheexactsignificationofthehabitsofaninsect，orinformsusfullyofitsdominantcharacteristic，orwhich，atleast，leavesnothingtoconjecture。”

Heconsidersituselessandeveninconvenienttoabandonmanycharmingexpressions，appropriateandsignificantastheyare，whichmaybeborrowedfromthegoodoldFrenchtongue；andinthisheresemblestheimmortaldeJussieu，whoinhisbotanicalclassificationswascarefulnottodiscardtheoldpopulardenominationswhichTheophrastus，Virgil，andLinnaeushadthoughtfittobestowuponplantandtree。

ItisforthesamereasonsthathelovestheProven？altongue；thatbeautifulidiom，thatsuperblanguage，richinmusic，insonorouswords，sosuggestiveandsofullofcolour，manyofwhoseterms，sayingpreciselywhattheyintendtosay，havenoequivalentinFrench。Hehaslearnedthelanguage，andreadsit：inparticularRoumanille，whoseeasy，familiarstylepleaseshimbetterthanthegrandiloquenceofMistral，althoughhedelightsalsoinCalendal，whoselyricalpowersfillhimwithenthusiasm。

>Fromthisancienttongue，whichwasearlyasfamiliartohimastheFrench，heborrowedcertainmannerisms，certaintricksofstyle，certainneologisms，andalso，tosomeextent，hissimplicityofmannerandthecadenceofhisprose。

Itwasnotwithoutdifficultythatheattainedthismastery。Measurethegulfbetweenhisfirstvolumesandhislast；inthefirstthestyleisslightlynervelessandindefinite：itwasonlyashegraduallyadvancedinhiscareerthatheacquiredwhatmaybecalledhisfinalmanner，orachieved，inhisnarratives，aperfectliterarystyle。Themostsubstantiallyconstructed，themosthappilyexpressedofhispageswerewrittenprincipallyinhisextremeoldage。Notonlyistherenosignoffailinginthese，butinhislatest“Souvenirs“theperfectionofformisperhapsevenmoreremarkablethanthewealthofmatter。

Howvitallyhisscrupulousrecordsimpressthemind’seye；howfirmlytheyestablishthemselvesinthememory！

EvenifonehasneverseenthePelopaeus，onereadilyconceivesanimpressionof“herwasp-likecostume，andcurvingabdomen，suspendedattheendofalongthread。”Whatexactitudeinthissnapshot，takenatthemomentwhentheinsectisoccupiedinscoopingoutofthemirethelumpofmudintendedfortheconstructionofhernest：“likeaskilledhousekeeper，withherclothingcarefullytuckedupthatitmaynotbesoiled，thewingsvibrating，thelimbsrigidlystraightened，theblackabdomenwellraisedontheendofitsyellowstalk，sherakesthemudwiththepointsofhermandibles，skimmingtheshiningsurface。”(12/4。)

Hedraws，inpassing，thischarmingsketchofthegadfly，thepestofhorses，whichnourishesitselfwiththeirblood：

“Gadfliesofseveralspeciesusedtotakerefugeunderthesilkendomeofmyumbrella，andtheretheywouldquietlyrest，onehere，onethere，onthetightlystretchedfabric；Irarelylackedtheircompanywhentheheatwasoverpowering。Towhileawaythehoursofwaiting，Iusedtolovetowatchtheirgreatgoldeneyes，whichwouldshinelikecarbunclesonthevaultedceilingofmyshelter；Iusedtolovetowatchthemslowlychangetheirstations，whentheexcessiveheatofsomepointoftheceilingwouldforcethemtomovealittle。”(12/5。)

WefollowallthemanoeuvresoftheBalaninus，theacorn-weevil，“buryingherdrill“which“operatesbymeansoflittlebites。”Thenarratorcallsourattentiontotheslightestepisodes，eventothoseaccidentswhichsometimessurprisetheworkerinthecourseofherlabours；when，withtherostrumburieddeepintheacorn，herfeetsuddenlylosetheirhold。Thentheunhappycreature，unabletofreeherself，findsherselfsuspendedintheair，atrightanglestoherproboscis，farfromanyfootholdorpointofvantage，attheextremityofherdisproportionatelylongpike，that“fatalstake。”(12/6。)

Asforthepoplar-weevil，wecanalmostseeitmoving“inthesubtlestequilibrium，clingingwithitshookedtalonstotheslipperysurfaceoftheleaf“；wewatchallthedetailsofitsmethodsandtheprogressofitslabours。Weseetheflexedleafassumetheverticalundertheawl-strokewhichtheinsectappliestothepedicle，“when，partiallydeprivedofsap，theleafbecomesmoreflexible，moremalleable；itisinasensepartlyparalysed，onlyhalfalive。”Thenwefollowtherollingprocess；“theimperturbabledeliberationoftheworkerasitrollsitscigar，whichfinallyhangsperpendicularlyattheendofthebentandwoundedstem。”

(12/7。)

Fabre，likeatrueartist，findsallsortsofexpressionstodescribethetiny，fragileeggsofhisinsects；littleshiningpearls，deliciouscoffersofnickeloramber，miniaturepotsoftranslucidalabaster，“whichwemightthinkwerestolenfromthecupboardofafairy。”

Heopenstheenchantedalcoveswhereinthepunygrubslieslumbering，“fat，roundedpuppets“；thetenderlarvaewhich“gapeandswingtheirheadstoandfro“whenthemotherreturnstothenestwithhertoothsomemouthfulorhercropswollenwithhoney。

Whatcompassion，whattenderness，whatsensitivenessintheaffectingpictureofthemotherHalictus，abandoned，deprivedofheroffspring，bewilderedandlost，whentheterriblespringflyhasdestroyedherhouse：

bald，emaciated，shabby，careworn，alreadydoggedbythesmallgreylizard！

(12/8。)

Thetragedyofthewasps’nestattheapproachofthefirstchillsofwinteristhefinalfragmentofanepic。Atfirstthereisasortofuneasiness，“aspeciesofindifferenceandanxietywhichbroodsoverthecity“；alreadyithasapresentimentofcomingmisfortune，ofanapproachingcatastrophe。Presentlyawildexcitementensues；thefoster-

mothers，“frightened，fierce，andrestless。”asthoughsuddenlyattackedbyanincomprehensibleinsanity，conceiveanaversionfortheyoung；“theneutersextirpatethelarvaeanddragthemoutofthenest。”andthedramaofdestructiondrawstoaclosewith“thefinalcatastrophe；theinfirmandthedyingaredismembered，eviscerated，dissectedinaheapinthecatacombsbymaggots，woodlice，andcentipedes。”Finallythemothcomesuponthescene，itslarvae“attackingthedwellingitself；gnawinganddestroyingthejoistsandrafters，untilallisreducedtoafewpinchesofdustandshredsofgreypaper。”(12/9。)

Whatpicturesqueexpressionsheemploystodepict，bymeansofsomesignificantfeature，thestrikingpeculiaritiesoftheinsectphysiognomy！

“Thegipsywhonightanddayforsevenmonthsgoestoandfrowithherbratsuponherback“istheLycosa，theTarantulawiththeblackstomach，thegreatspiderofthewastes。

ThelarvaofthegreatCapricornis，whichgnawstheinteriorofoldoak-

trees，“leavingbehindit，intheformofdry-rot，therefuseofitsdigestiveprocesses。”is“ascrapofintestinewhicheatsitswayasitgoes。”

In“thathideouslout“theScorpionheshowsusaroughepitomeoftheshapelesshead，thetruncatedfaceofthespider。

TheTachinae，those“brazendiptera“whichswarmonthesunnysandonthewatchforBembexorPhilanthus，inordertoestablishtheiroffspringatitsexpense，“arebanditscladinfustian，theheadwrappedinaredhandkerchief，awaitingthehourofattack！“

TheLanguedocianSphex，sprawlingflatuponthevineleaves，growsdizzywiththeheatandfrisksforverypleasure；“withitsfeetittapsrapidlyonitsresting-place，andthusproducesadrumminglikethatofashowerofrainfallingthicklyontheleaves。”Fabretakesakeendelightintheproductionofthesepictures，atoncesoexactandlifelike；butwemustnotthereforesupposethathismindisincapableofthedetaileddescriptionsnecessitatedbythelaboriousprocessesofminuteanatomy。

Likeallsciences，entomologyhasitsuninterestingaspectswhenweseektostudyitdeeply。YetwithwhatinterestandlucidityhasFabresucceededinexpoundingthecomplexmorphosesoftheobscureandmiserablelarvaoftheSitaris，thecuriousintestineoftheScarabaeus，thesecretofthespawningoftheweevil，andtheingeniousmechanismsofthemusicalinstrumentsoftheDecticusandtheCicada。Withwhatsubtleartheexplainsthesongofthecricket，howthefivehundredprismsoftheserratedbowsetthefourtympanainvibration；andhowthesongissometimesmuffledbyaprocessofmuting。(12/10。)

Someoftheimagessuggestedtohimbytheformsofanimalsaresobeautifulthatcertainofhisdescriptionsmightwellservetoinspireanartist，orsuggestnewmotivesofdecorationintheartsofenamelling，gem-engraving，jewellery，etc。

Insteadofeternallycopyingancientthings，orseekinginspirationinlifelesstexts，whynotturnourattentiontothenumerousandinterestingmotiveswhicharescatteredallaroundus，whoseoriginalityconsistspreciselyinthefactthattheyhaveneveryetbeenemployed？Whytorturethemindtoproducemorepainfulelaborationsofawkward，frozen，poverty-

strickencombinations，whenNatureherselfisathand，offeringtheinexhaustiblecasketofherlivingmarvels，fulloftheprofoundestlogicandasyetunexamined？

Ifthebeebymeansofthehexagonalprismhasanticipatedallthegeometersintheproblemoftheeconomyofspaceandmatter；iftheEpe？raandthemolluschaveinventedthelogarithmicspiralanditstranscendentproperties；ifallcreatures“inspiredbyanaestheticwhichnothingescapes，achievethebeautiful“(12/11。)，surelyhumanart，whichcanbutimitateandremember，hasonlytoemploytoitsprofitandtransfigureintoidealimagesthenaturalbeautiessoprofuselyfurnishedbytheUnconscious。

Modernart，influencedmoreespeciallybythesubtleJapanese，isalreadytreadingthispath。

WhatartistcouldeverengraveonraremetalsormodelinprecioussubstancesamorebeautifulsubjectthanthewonderfulpictureoftheTarantulaoffering，atthelengthofherextendedlimbs，herwhitesacofeggstothesun；orthetransparentnymphoftheOnthophagustaurus，“asthoughcarvedfromablockofcrystal，withitswidesnoutanditsenormoushornslikethoseoftheAurochs“？(12/12。)WhatanundiscoveredsubjecthemightfindinthenymphoftheErgatus(12/13。)，withitsalmostincorporealgrace，asthoughmadeof“translucentivory，likeacommunicantinherwhiteveils，thearmscrosseduponthebreast；alivingsymbolofmysticresignationbeforetheaccomplishmentofdestiny“；orinthestillmoremysteriousnymphoftheScarabaeussacer，firstofall“amummyoftranslucentamber，maintainedbyitslinencerementsinahieraticpose；

butsoonuponthisbackgroundoftopaz，thehead，thelegs，andthethoraxchangetoasombrered，whiletherestofthebodyremainswhite，andthenymphisslowlytransfigured，assumingthatmajesticcostumewhichcombinestheredofthecardinal’smantlewiththewhitenessofthesacerdotalalb。”

Ontheotherhand，whatSimsorBatemaneverimaginedweirdercaricaturethanthegrotesquelarvaoftheOniticella，withitsextravagantdorsalhump；orthefantasticandalarmingsilhouetteoftheEmpusa，withitsscalybellyraisedcrozierwiseandmountedonfourlongstilts，itspointedface，turned-upmoustaches，greatprominenteyes，anda“stupendousmitre“：

themostgrotesque，themostfantasticfreaksthatcreationcaneverhaveevolved？(12/14。)

CHAPTER13。THEEPICOFANIMALLIFE。

AlthoughinhisportraitsanddescriptionsFabreissimpleandexact，andsofullofnaturalgeniality；althoughhecansohandlehiswordsastorenderthem“adequate“toreproducethemovingpicturesofthetinycreaturesheobserves，hisstyletouchesahigherlevel，flasheswithcolour，andgrowsrichwithimagerywhenheseekstointerpretthefeelingswhichanimatethem：theirloves，theirbattles，theircunningschemes，andthepursuitoftheirprey；allthatvastdramawhicheverywhereaccompaniesthetravailofcreation。

ItishereinparticularthatFabreshowsuswhathorizons，asyetalmostunexplored，whatprofoundandinexhaustibleresourcesscienceisabletoofferpoetry。

Thebreakingofeggorchrysalidisinitselfamovingevent；fortoattaintothelightisforallthesecreatures“aprodigioustravail。”

Thehourofspringhassounded。Atthecallofthefield-cricket，theheraldofthespring，thegermsthatslumberinnymphorchrysalishavebrokenthroughtheirspell。

Whathasteandingenuityarerequiredtoemergefromthenataldarkness，tounwraptheswaddling-bands，tobreakthesubterraneanshells，todemolishthewaxenbulkheads，toperforatethesoilortoescapefromprisonsofsilk！

Thewoodlandbug，whoseeggisamasterpiece，inventsIknownotwhatmagicalcentre-bit，whatcuriouspieceoflocksmith’swork，inordertounlockitsnatalcasketandachieveitsliberty。

Fordaysthegrasshopper“buttsitsheadagainsttheroughnessofthesoil，andwarsuponthepebbles；bydintoffranticwrigglingitescapesfromthewomboftheearth，burstsitsoldcoat，andistransfigured，openingitseyestothelight，andleapingforthefirsttime。”

TheBombyxofthepine-tree“decksitsbrowwithpointsofdiamond，spreadsitswings，anderectsitsplumes，andshakesoutitsfleecetoflyonlyinthedarkness，towedthesamenight，andtodieonthemorrow。”

Whatmarvellousinventions，whatmachinery，whatincrediblecontrivances，“inorderthatatinyflycanemergefromunderground“！

TheAnthraxassumesapanoplyoftrepans，anassortmentofgimletsandknives，harpoonsandgrapnels，inordertoperforateitsceilingofcement；

thenthelugubriousblackflyappears，allmoistasyetwiththehumoursofthelaboratoryoflife，steadiesitselfuponitstremblinglegs，driesitswings，quitsitssuitofarmour，andtakesflight。”