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phenomenon manifests itself。
But pure observation； as practised by his predecessors； Réaumur and Huber；
is often insufficient； or 〃furnishes only a glimpse of matters。〃
He had recourse； therefore； to artificial observation of the kind known as
experimentation； and we may say that Fabre was really the first to employ
the experimental method in the study of the minds of animals。
Near the field of observation； therefore； is the naturalist's workshop；
〃the animal laboratory；〃 in which such inductions as may be suggested by
the doings and the movements of the insects 〃which roam at liberty amidst
the thyme and lavender〃 are subjected to the test of experiment。 It is a
great； silent； isolated room； brilliantly lighted by two windows facing
south； upon the garden； one at least of which is always kept open that the
insects may come and go at liberty。
In the glass…topped boxes of pine which occupy almost the entire height of
the whitewashed walls are carefully arranged the collections so patiently
amassed； all the entomological fauna of the South of France； and the sea…
shells of the Mediterranean； an abundant wealth also of divers rarities；
numismatical treasures and fragments of pottery and other prehistorical
documents； of which the numerous ossuaries in the neighbourhood of
Sérignan； scattered here and there upon the hills； contain many specimens。
At the top； crowning the facade of glass…topped cases like an immense
frieze； is the colossal herbarium； the first volumes of which go back to
the early youth of their owner； all the flora； both of the Midi and the
North； those of the plains and those of the mountains； and all the algae of
fresh and salt water。
But it must not be supposed that Fabre attaches any great value to these
collections； enormous though the sum of labour which they represent。 To him
they have been a means of education； a means of organizing and arranging
his knowledge； and not of satisfying an idle curiosity； not the amusement
of one content with the rind of things。 In order to identify at first sight
such specimens as one encounters and proposes to examine； one must first of
all learn to observe and to see thoroughly； and to school the eyes in the
colours and forms peculiar to each individual species。
One may fairly complain of Réaumur； for example； that his knowledge was
uncertain and incomplete。 Too often he leaves his readers undecided as to
the nature of the species whose habits he describes。 Fabre himself； by dint
of criticizing with so much humour the abuse of classifications； has
sometimes allowed himself to fall into the same fault。 （7/28。） He has taken
good care； however； not to neglect the systematic study of species； witness
his 〃Flora of the Vaucluse〃 and that careful catalogue of Avignon which he
has not disdained to republish。 （7/29。） The truth is that 〃if we do not
know their names the knowledge of the things escapes us〃 （7/30。）； and he
was profoundly conscious of the truth of this precept of the great
Linnaeus。
The middle of the room is entirely occupied by a great table of walnut…
wood； on which are arranged bottles； test…tubes； and old sardine…boxes；
which Fabre employs in order to watch the evolution of a thousand nameless
or doubtful eggs； to observe the labours of their larvae； the creation and
the hatching of cocoons； and the little miracles of metamorphosis； 〃after a
germination more wonderful than that of the acorn which makes the oak。〃
Covers of metallic gauze resting on earthenware saucers full of sand； a few
carboys and flower…pots or sweetmeat jars closed with a square of glass；
these serve as observation or experimental cages in which the progress and
the actions of 〃these tiny living machines〃 can be examined。
Fabre has revealed himself as a psychologist without rival； of a consummate
skill in the difficult and delicate art of experimentation； the art of
making the insect speak； of putting questions to it； of forcing it to
betray its secrets； for experiment is 〃the only method which can throw any
light upon the nature of instincts。〃
His resources being slender and his mind inventive； he has ingeniously
supplemented the poverty of his equipment； and has discovered less costly
and less complex means of conducting his experiments； knowing the secret of
extracting the sublimest truth from clumsy combinations of 〃trivial；
peasant…made articles。〃
He has succeeded； in his rustic laboratory； in applying the rigorous rules
of investigation and experimentation established by the great biologists。
He has therefore been able to establish his beautiful observations in a
manner so indisputable that those who come after him and are tempted to
study the same things can but arrive at the same results； and derive
inspiration from his researches。
To note with care all the details of a phenomenon is the first essential；
so that others may afterwards refer to them and profit by them； the
difficult thing is to interpret them； to discover the circumstances； the
whys and wherefores； the consequences； and the connecting links。
But a single fact observed by chance at the wayside； and which would not
even attract the attention of another； will be instantly luminous to this
searching understanding； it will suggest questions unforeseen； and will
evoke； by anticipation； preconceived ideas and sudden flashes of intuition；
which will necessitate the test of experiment。
Why； for example； does the Philanthus； that slender wasp； which captures
the honey…bee upon the blossoms in order to feed her larvae； why； before
she carries her prey to her offspring； does she 〃outrage the dying insect；〃
by squeezing its crop in order to empty it of honey； in which she appears
to delight； and does indeed actually delight？
〃The bandit greedily takes in her mouth the extended and sugared tongue of
the dead insect； then once more she presses the neck and the thorax； and
once more applies the pressure of her abdomen to the honey…sac of the bee。
The honey oozes forth and is instantly licked up。 Thus the bee is gradually
compelled to disgorge the contents of the crop。 This atrocious meal lasts
often half an hour and longer； until the last trace of honey has
disappeared。〃
The detailed answer is obtained by experiment； which perfectly explains
this 〃odious feast；〃 the excuse for which is simply maternity。 The
Philanthus knows； instinctively； without having learned it； that honey；
which is her ordinary fare； is； by a very singular 〃inversion；〃 a mortal
poison to her larvae。 （7/31。）
As an accomplished physiologist； Fabre conducts all kinds of experiments。
Behind the wires of his cages； he provokes the moving spectacle of the
scorpion at grip with the whole entomological fauna； in order to test the
effects of its terrible venom upon various species； and thus he discovers
the strange immunity of larvae； the virus； 〃the reagent of a transcendent
chemistry； distinguishes the fl