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！
its laborious inductions to the infallible wisdom of the unconscious！
It is； in fact； to this concatenation of actions； narrowly connected by a
mutual dependence； that we owe this inexhaustible series of cunning
industries and wonderful arts。 To Fabre they are so many feats of a learned
unconsciousness。
〃See the nest； the accustomed masterpiece of mothers； it is more often than
otherwise an animal fruit； a coffer full of germs； containing eggs in place
of seeds。〃
The satin bag of the Epe？ra fasciata； in which her eggs are enclosed；
〃breaks at the caress of the sun； like the skin of an over…ripe
pomegranate。〃
The Dorthesia； the louse inhabiting the euphorbia； 〃trebles the length of
her body； prolonging its hinder part into a pouch； comparable to that of
the opossum； into which the eggs are dropped； and in which the young are
hatched； to leave it afterwards at will。〃 （8/10。）
The Chermes of the ilex 〃hardens into a rampart of ebony； whence an
innumerable legion of vermin bursts forth one day without changing their
place。〃
The capsule of gold…beater's skin； in which the grubs of the Cione are
enclosed； divides itself； at the moment of liberation； into two hemispheres
〃of a regularity so perfect that they recall exactly the bursting of the
pyxidium when the seed is distributed。〃 （8/11。）
Here and there； however； we catch a glimpse of a rudiment of what we
understand by consciousness； in the shape of a 〃vague discrimination。〃
Each plant has its lover； drawn to it by a kind of elective affinity and
invariable tendency。 The Larra makes for the thistle； the Vanessa for the
nettle； the Clytus for the ilex； and the Crioceris for the lily。 〃The
weevil knows nothing but its peas and beans； the golden Rhynchites only the
sloe； and the Balaninus only the nut or acorn。〃
But the Pieris； which haunts the cabbage； frequents the nasturtium also；
and the golden rose…beetle； which 〃intoxicates itself at the clusters of
the hawthorn；〃 is no less addicted to the nectar of the rose。
The Xylocopa； which burrows in the trunks of trees and old rafters； forming
little round corridors in which to lodge her offspring； 〃will utilize
artificial galleries which she has not herself bored。〃
The Chalicodoma 〃also is aware of the economic advantages of an old
abandoned nest〃； the Anthophora is careful to establish her family 〃at the
least expense；〃 and profits on occasion by galleries which have been mined
by previous generations； adapting herself to these new conditions； she
repairs the tunnels which she did not construct 〃and economizes her
forces。〃 （8/12。）
It would seem； therefore； that these tiny minds are created and shaped by
means of experience； they recognize 〃that which is most fitting〃； they
learn； they compare； may we not also say that they judge？
Does not the Mason…bee； 〃which rakes the roads for a dry powdery dust and
mixes it with saliva to convert it into a hard cement；〃 foresee that this
mud will harden？
Is the Pelopaeus devoid of judgment when she seeks the interior of
dwelling…houses in order to shelter her nest of dried clay； which the least
drop of rain would reduce to its original state of mud？
Is it without knowledge of the effects that the sloe…weevil builds a
ventilating chimney to prevent the asphyxiation of her larva？ that the
Scarabaeus sacer contrives a filter at the smaller end of its pear…shaped
ball； by means of which the grub is able to breathe？ or that Arachne
labyrintha 〃introduces in her silk…work a rampart of compressed earth to
protect her eggs from the probe of the Ichneumon〃？
May we not also see a masterpiece of the highest logic in the house of the
trap…door spider； Arachne clotho； which is furnished with a door； a true
door 〃which she throws open with a push of the leg； and carefully bolts
behind her on returning by means of a little silk〃？ （8/13。）
What a miracle of invention too is the prodigious nest of the Eumenes；
〃with its egg suspended by a thread from the roof； like a pendulum；
oscillating at the lightest breath in order to save it from contact with
the caterpillars； which； incompletely paralysed； are wriggling and writhing
below〃！ Later； when the egg is hatched； 〃the filament is transformed into a
tube； a place of refuge； up which the grub clambers backwards。 At the least
sign of danger from the mass of caterpillars the larva retreats into its
sheath and ascends to the roof； where the wriggling swarm cannot reach it。〃
（8/14。）
Let us refer also to the remarkable history of the Copris。 We cannot deny
that the valiant dung…beetle is capable of 〃evading the accidental〃 （which
to Fabre constitutes one of the distinctive characteristics of the
intelligence）； since it immediately intervenes if with the point of a
penknife we open the roof of its nest and lay bare its egg。 〃The fragments
raised by the knife are immediately brought together and soldered； so that
no trace is left of the injury； and all is once more in order。〃 We may read
also with what incredible address the mother Copris was able to use and to
profit by the ready…made pellets of cow…dung which it occurred to Fabre to
offer her。 （8/15。）
But their scope is limited； and encroaches very little； in the eyes of the
great observer； on the domain of intelligence。 This he demonstrates to
satiety； and his astonishing Necrophori； which adapt themselves so
admirably to circumstances and triumph over the experimental difficulties
to which he subjects them； seem scarcely to exceed the limits of those
actions which at bottom are merely unconscious。 （8/16。）
With the spawning of the Osmia； Fabre throws a fresh and unexpected light
on the intuitive knowledge of instinct。
We are still groping our way among the causes which rule the determination
of the sexes。 Biology has only been able to throw a few scattered lights on
the subject； and we possess only a few approximate data； which nevertheless
are turned to account by the breeders of insects。 We are still in the
region of illusion and imperfect prognostics。
But the Osmia knows what we do not。 She is deeply versed in all
physiological and anatomical knowledge； and in the faculty of creating
children of either sex at will。
These pretty bees； 〃with coppery skin and fleece of ruddy velvet；〃 which
establish their progeny in the hollow of a bramble stump； the cavity of a
reed； or the winding staircase of an empty snail…shell； know the fixed and
immutable genetic laws which we can only guess at； and are never mistaken。
This marvellous prerogative the Osmia shares with a host of apiaries； in
which the unequal development of the males and females requires an unequal
provision of space and of nourishment for the future larvae。 For the
females； who exceed in point of size； huge cells and abundant provision；
for the more puny males； narrow cells and a smaller ration of pollen and
honey。
Now the circumstances which are encountered by