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microscopes； which immediately distinguish； in the vast field of nature； an
object that human vision is powerless to discover。 （7/3。）
How does the Ammophila； hovering over the turf and investigating it far and
wide； in its search for a grey grub； contrive to discern the precise point
in the depth of the subsoil where the larva is slumbering in immobility？
〃Neither touch nor sight can come into play； for the grub is sealed up in
its burrow at a depth of several inches； nor the scent； since it is
absolutely inodorous； nor the hearing； since its immobility is absolute
during the daytime。〃 （7/4。）
The Processional caterpillar of the pine…trees； 〃endowed with an exquisite
hygrometric sensibility；〃 is a barometer more infallible than that of the
physicists。 〃It foresees the tempests preparing afar； at enormous
distances； almost in the other hemisphere；〃 and announces them several days
before the least sign of them appears on the horizon。 （7/5。）
A wild bee； the Chalicodoma； and a wasp； the Cerceris； carried in the dark
far from their familiar pastures； to a distance of several miles； and
released in spots which they have never seen； cross vast and unknown spaces
with absolute certainty； and regain their nests； even after long absence；
and in spite of contrary winds and the most unexpected obstacles。 It is not
memory that guides them； but a special faculty whose astonishing results we
must admit without attempting to explain them； so far removed are they from
our own psychology。 （7/6。） But here is another example：
The Greater Peacock moths cross hills and valleys in the darkness； with a
heavy flight of wings spotted with inexplicable hieroglyphics。 They hasten
from the remotest depths of the horizon to find their 〃sleeping beauties；〃
drawn thereto by unknown odours； inappreciable by our senses； yet so
penetrating that the branch of almond on which the female has perched； and
which she has impregnated with her effluvium； exerts the same extraordinary
attraction。 （7/7。）
Considering these creatures； we end by discovering more things than are
contained in all the philosophies。。。if we know how to look for them。
Among so many unimaginable phenomena； which bewilder us； 〃because there is
nothing analogous in us；〃 we succeed in perceiving； here and there； a few
glimpses of day； which suddenly throw a singular light upon this black
labyrinth； in which the least secret we can surprise 〃enters perhaps more
directly into the profound enigma of our ends and our origins than the
secret of the most urgent and most closely studied of our passions。〃 （7/8。）
Fabre explains by hypnosis one of those curious facts which have hitherto
been so poorly interpreted。 When surprised by abnormal conditions； we see
insects suddenly fall over； drop to the ground； and lie as though struck by
lightning； gathering their limbs under their bodies。 A shock； an unexpected
odour； a loud noise； plunges them instantly into a sort of lethargy； more
or less prolonged。 The insect 〃feigns death；〃 not because it simulates
death； but in reality because this MAGNETIC condition resembles that of
death。 （7/9。） Now the Odynerus； the Anthidium； the Eucera； the Ammophila；
and all the hymenoptera which Fabre has observed sleeping at the fall of
night； 〃suspended in space solely by the strength of their mandibles； their
bodies tense； their limbs retracted； without exhaustion or collapse〃； and
the larva of the Empusa； 〃which for some ten months hangs to a twig by its
limbs； head downwards〃： do not these present a surprising analogy with
those hypnotized persons who possess the faculty of remaining fixed in the
most painful poses； and of supporting the most unusual attitudes； for an
extremely long time； for instance； with one arm extended； or one foot
raised from the ground； without appearing to experience the least fatigue；
and with a persevering and unfaltering energy？ （7/10。）
That the ex…schoolmaster was able to penetrate so far into this new world；
and that he has been able to interest us in so many fascinating problems；
was due to the fact that he had also 〃taken a wide bird's…eye view through
all the windows of creation。〃 His universal capabilities； his immense
culture and almost encyclopaedic science have enabled him to utilize；
thanks to his studies； all the knowledge allied to his subject。 He is not
one of those who understand only their speciality and who； knowing nothing
outside their own province and their particular labours； refuse to grasp at
anything beyond the narrow limits within which they stand installed。
All plants are to him so familiar that the flowers； for him； assume the
airs of living persons。 But without a profound knowledge of botany； who
would hope to grasp the profound； perpetual； and intimate relations of the
plant and the insect？
He has turned over strata and interrogated the schistous deposits； whose
archives preserve the forms of vanished organizations； but 〃keep silence as
to the origin of the instincts。〃 Bending over his reagents； he has sought
to discover； according to the phrase of a philosopher； those secret
retreats in which Nature is seated before her furnaces； in the depths of
her laboratory； following up the metamorphoses of matter even to the wings
of the Scarabaei； and observing how life； returning to her crucible the
debris and ashes of the organism； combines the elements anew； and from the
elements of the urine can derive； for example； by a simple displacement of
molecules； 〃all this dazzling magic of colours of innumerable shades： the
amethystine violet of Geotrupes； the emerald of the rose…beetle； the gilded
green of the Cantharides； the metallic lustre of the gardener…beetles； and
all the pomp of the Buprestes and the dung…beetles。〃 （7/11。）
His books are steeped in all the ideas of modern physics。 The highest
mathematical knowledge has been referred to with profit in his marvellous
description of the hunting…net of the Epe？ra。 Whose 〃terribly scientific〃
combinations realize 〃the spiral logarithm of the geometers； so curious in
its properties〃 （7/12。）； a splendid observation； in which Fabre makes us
admire； in the humble web of a spider； a masterpiece as astonishing and
incomprehensible as and even more sublime than the honeycomb。
This explains why Fabre has always energetically denied that he is properly
speaking an entomologist； and indeed the term appears often wrongly to
describe him。 He loves； on the contrary； to call himself a naturalist； that
is； a biologist； biology being； by definition； the study of living
creatures considered as a whole and from every point of view。 And as
nothing in life is isolated； as all things hold together； and as each part；
in all its relations； presents itself to the gaze of the observer under
innumerable aspects； one cannot be a true naturalist without being at the
same time a philosopher。
But it is not enough to know and to observe。
To be admitted to the spectacle of