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order of nature is in itself a sufficiently fascinating study； without
striving to crack an unbreakable bone or wasting time in pondering
insoluble enigmas。 The important matter is to avoid the introduction of
illusions； to beware of exceeding the data of observation and experiment；
of substituting our own inferences for the facts； of outstripping reality
and amplifying the marvellous。
Let us listen to the scrupulous analysis whose lessons； scattered through
four thousand pages； teach us more concerning instinct and its innumerable
variations than all the most learned treatises and speculations of the
philosophers。
Nothing in the world perplexes the mind of the observer like the spectacle
of the birth and growth of the instincts。
At precisely the right moment； just as failure or disaster seems
foreordained by the previously established circumstances； Fabre shows us
his insects as suddenly mastered by an irresistible force。
〃At the right moment〃 they invincibly obey some sort of mysterious and
inflexible prescription。 Without apprenticeship； they perform the very
actions required； and blindly accomplish their destiny。
Then； the moment having passed； the instincts 〃disappear and do not
reawaken。 A few days more or less modify the talents； and what the young
insect knew the adult has often forgotten。〃 （8/4。）
Among the Lycosae； at the moment of exodus； a sudden instinct is evolved
which a few hours later disappears never to return。 It is the climbing
instinct； unknown to the adult spider； and soon forgotten by the
emancipated young； who are destined to roam upon the face of the earth。 But
the young Lycosae； anxious to leave the maternal home and to travel； become
suddenly ardent climbers and aeronauts； each releasing a long； light thread
which serves it as parachute。 The voyage accomplished； no trace of this
ingenuity is left。 Suddenly acquired； the climbing instinct no less
suddenly disappears。 （8/5。）
The great historiographer of instinct has thrown a wonderful light； by his
beautiful experiments relating to the nidification of the mason…bee； upon
the indissoluble succession of its different phases； the lineal
concatenation； the inevitable and necessary order which presides over each
of these nervous discharges of which the total series constitutes； properly
speaking； a mode of action。
The mason…bee continues to build upon the ready…completed nest presented to
her。 She obstinately insists upon provisioning a cell already duly filled
with the quantity of honey required by the larva； because； in this case as
in the other； the impulse which incites her to build or to provision the
nest has not yet been exhausted。
On the other hand； if we empty the little cup of its contents when she has
filled it she will not recommence her labours。 〃The process of provisioning
being complete； the secret impulse which urged her to collect her honey is
no longer active。 The insect therefore ceases to store her honey； and； in
spite of this accident； lays her egg in the empty cell； thus leaving the
future nursling without nourishment。〃 （8/6。）
In the case of the Pelopaeus； Fabre calls our attention to one of the most
instructive physiological spectacles that can be imagined。
While the mason…bee does not notice that her cell has been emptied； the
Pelopaeus cannot perceive that the tricks of the experimenter have resulted
in the disappearance of her progeny； and she 〃continues to store away
spiders for a germ that no longer exists； she perseveres untiringly in her
useless hunting； as though the future of her larva depended on it； she
amasses provisions which will feed no one； more； she pushes aberration to
the extent of plastering even the place where her nest was if we remove it；
giving the last strokes of the trowel to an imaginary building； and putting
her seals upon empty nothing。〃 （8/7。）
》From these facts； and others； no less celebrated； which show 〃the inability
of insects to escape from the routine of their customs and their habitual
labours；〃 Fabre derives so many proofs of their lack of intelligence。
The Epe？ra fasciata is incapable of replacing a single radial thread in the
geometrical structure of its web； when broken； it recommences the entire
web every evening； and weaves it at one stretch with the most beautiful
mastery； as though merely amusing itself。
The caterpillar of the Greater Peacock moth teaches us the same lesson；
when occupied in weaving its cocoon it does not know how to repair an
artificial rent； and 〃in spite of the certainty of its death； or rather
that of the future butterfly； it quietly continues to spin； without
troubling to cover the rent； devoting itself to a superfluous task； and
ignoring the treacherous breach； which leaves the cocoon and its inhabitant
at the mercy of the first thief that finds it。〃 （8/8。）
Thus 〃because one action has just been performed； another must inevitably
be performed to complete the first； what is done is done； and is never
repeated。 Like the watercourse； which cannot climb the hills and return to
its source； the insect does not retrace its steps or repeat its actions；
which follow one another invariably； and are inevitably connected in a
necessary order； like a series of echoes； one of which awakens
another。。。The insect knows nothing of its marvellous talents； just as the
stomach knows nothing of its cunning chemistry。 It builds like a
bricklayer； weaves； hunts； stabs； and paralyses； as it secretes the venom
of its weapons； the silk of its cocoon； the wax of its comb； or the threads
of its web； always without the slightest knowledge of the means and the
end。〃 （8/9。）
Thus instinct is one thing and intelligence is another； and for Fabre there
is no transition which can transform the one into the other。
But how profound and abundant； how infinite is the source from which this
manifold activity derives； distributed as it is throughout the entire
animal kingdom； and which in ourselves commands the profoundest part of our
nature； unconscious； or even in opposition to our wonderful intelligence；
which it often silences or altogether overwhelms。
Although the insect 〃has no need of lessons from its elders〃 in order to
accomplish its beautiful masterpieces； the comprehensive concept of the
genius which rises spontaneously and at a single step to the loftiest
conceptions is not always a product of pure reason。
Compare the sublime logic of animal maternity； the impeccable dictates of
instinct； with the hesitations； the gropings； the uncertainties； the errors
and tragic failures of human maternity； when it seeks to replace the
unerring commands of instinct by the clumsy efforts of the intelligence！
If all is darkness to the animal； apart from its habitual paths； how feeble
and hesitating； how faltering and unequal is reason when it seeks to oppose
its laborious inductions to the infallible wisdom of the unconscious！
It is； in