按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
the strange immunity of larvae； the virus； 〃the reagent of a transcendent
chemistry； distinguishes the flesh of the larva from that of the adult； it
is harmless to the former； but mortal to the latter〃； a fresh proof that
〃metamorphosis modifies the substance of the organism to the point of
changing its most intimate properties。〃 （7/32。）
You may judge from this that he knows through and through the history of
the creatures which form the subjects of his faithful narratives。 He is
informed of the smallest events of their lives。 He possesses a calendar of
their births； he records their chronology and the succession of
generations； he has noted their methods of work； examined their diet； and
recorded their meals。 He discovers the motives which dictate their
peculiarities of choice； why the Cerceris； for instance； among all the
victims at its disposal； never selects anything but the Buprestis and the
weevils。 He is familiar too with their tactics of warfare and their methods
of conflict。
His gaze has penetrated even the most hidden dwellings； those in which the
Halictus 〃varnishes her cells and makes the round loaf which is to receive
the egg〃； in which； under the cover of cocoons； murderous grubs devour
slumbering nymphs； even the depths of the soil are not hidden from him； for
there； thanks to his artifices； he has surprised the astonishing secret of
the Minotaur。
He sifts all doubtful stories； anecdotes； statements of supposed habits；
all that is incoherent； or ill observed； or misinterpreted； all the cliches
which the makers of books pass from hand to hand。
In place of repetition he gives us laws； constant facts； fixed rules。
With incomparable skill； he repeats and tests the ancient experiments of
Réaumur。
He is not content to show us that Erasmus Darwin is mistaken； he points out
how it is that he has fallen into error。 （7/33。）
He sets himself to decipher the meaning of old tales； skilfully disengaging
the little parcel of truth which usually lies beneath a mass of incorrect
or even false statements。 He criticises La Fontaine； and questions the
statements of Horus Apollo and Pliny。 From a mass of undigested knowledge
he has created the living science of entomology； which had received from
Réaumur a first breath of vitality； in such wise that each individual
creature is presented in his work with its precise expression and the
absolute truth of its character and attitudes； the inhabitants of the woods
and fields； whether those which feed upon the crops or those which live in
the crevices of the rocks； or the obscure workers that crawl upon the
earth； all those which have a secret to tell or something to teach us； the
Cigale； so different from the insect of the Fable； and above all that
beetle whose name had hitherto been encountered arrayed in the most
fantastic legends； the famous Scarabaeus sacer of the tombs； which Fabre
preferred to place at the head of his epic as an agreeable prologue；
although the inquiry relative to his amazing feats belongs chronologically
to a comparatively recent period of his career。
How moderate he is in such suppositions as he ventures； how cautious when
his persistent patience has at last struck against 〃the inaccessible wall
of the Unknowable〃！ Then； with admirable frankness； tranquil and sincere；
he simply owns that 〃he does not know；〃 unlike so many others； whose
uncritical minds are contented with a fragmentary vision； and run so far
ahead of the facts that they can only promote indefinite illusion and
error。
One is surprised indeed to remark how few even of the most learned and
well…informed of men have a real aptitude for observation； and a highly
instructive book might be written concerning the discrepancies and the weak
points in our knowledge。 If they were subjected to a sufficiently severe
test； how threadbare would appear many of those problems which nature and
the world present； and which are regarded as resolved！
How long； for instance； was needed to destroy the legend of the cuckoo；
incessantly repeated down to the days of Xavier Raspail； and to us so
familiar； to elucidate its history； and to set it in its true light！
（7/34。）
It is by means of such data as these that a science is founded； for
theories decay； and only well…observed facts remain irrefragable。 With
stones such as these； which are hewn by the great artisan； the structures
of the future will be built； and our own science； perhaps； will one day be
refashioned。
For this reason Fabre's books are an education for all those who wish to
devote themselves to observation； a manual of mental discipline； a true
〃essay upon method；〃 which should be read by every naturalist； and the most
interesting； instructive； familiar and delightful course of training that
has ever been known。
On the other hand； it is impossible to conceive what labour this delicate
work demands； what perseverance Fabre has required painfully to extract one
grain of gold； to glean and unite the definite factors； the positive
documents； which served as foundations for each of his essays； lucid；
limpid； and captivating as the most delightful of fairy…tales。 We are
charmed； fascinated； and astonished； we see nothing of the groping advance；
the checks； and all the toil and the patience demanded。 We do not suspect
the long waiting； the hesitation； the desperate length of the inquiries。
For example； to establish the curious relations which exist between the
wasps and the Volucellae； what long and repeated experiments were needful！
His notebooks； in which he records； from day to day； all that he sees； are
evidence of this。 What watches in the alley of lilacs； year after year； to
decipher the mechanism and the mode of construction of the hunting…net of
the Epe？ra！ Some of these histories； like that of the hyper…metamorphosis
of the Melo？； were only completed as the result of twenty…five years of
assiduous inquiry； while forty years were required to complete that of the
Scarabaeus sacer； for his observation of it was always partial； it is
almost always impossible to divine what one cannot see from the little that
one does see； and as a rule one must return to the same point over and over
again in order to fill up lacunae。
The majority of the insects which Fabre has studied are solitary； and are
only to be encountered singly； scattered over wide areas of country。 Some
live only in determined spots； and not elsewhere； such as the famous
Cerceris； or the yellow…winged Sphex； of which no trace is to be found
beyond the limits of the Carpentras countryside。
The proper season must be watched for； one must be ready at any moment to
profit by a lucky chance； and resign oneself to interminable watches at the
bottom of a ravine； or keep on the alert for hours under a fiery sun。 Often
the chance goes by； or the trail followed proves false； but the season is
over； and one must wait for the return of another spring。 The