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honey。
Now the circumstances which are encountered by the Osmia； when； pressed by
the necessities of spawning； she searches for a dwelling； are often
fortuitous and incapable of modification； and in order to give each set of
larvae the necessary space 〃she lays at will a male or a female egg；
according to the conditions of space。〃
In this marvellous study； which constitutes； with the history of the
Cerceris； the finest masterpiece of experimental entomology； Fabre
brilliantly establishes all the details of that curious law which in the
Hymenoptera rules both the distribution and the succession of the sexes。 In
his artificial hives； in glass cylinders； he forces the Osmia to commence
her spawning with the males； instead of beginning with the females as
nature requires； since the insect is primarily preoccupied with the more
important sex； that which ensures par excellence the perpetuation of the
species。 He even forces the whole swarm which buzzes about his work…tables；
his books； his bottles； and apparatus； completely to change the order of
its spawning。 He shows finally that in the heart of the ovaries the egg of
the Osmia has as yet no determined sex； and that it is only at the precise
moment when the egg is on the point of emerging from the oviduct that it
receives； AT THE WILL OF THE MOTHER； the mysterious； final； and inevitable
imprint。
But whence does the Osmia derive this； 〃distinct idea of the invisible〃？
Here again is one of those riddles of nature which Fabre declares himself
quite incapable of solving。 （8/17。）
Is this all？ No； we are far from having made the tour of this miraculous
and incommensurable kingdom through which this admirable master leads us；
and I should never be done were I to attempt to exhaust all the spectacles
which he offers us。 Let us descend yet another step； among creatures yet
smaller and humbler。 We shall find tendencies； impulses； preferences；
efforts； intentions； 〃Machiavellic ruses and unheard…of stratagems。〃
Certain miserable black mites； living specks； the larvae of a beetle； one
of the Meloidae； the Sitaris； are parasites of the solitary bee； the
Anthophora。 They wait patiently all the winter at the entrance of her
tunnel； on the slope of a sunny bank； for the springtime emergence of the
young bees； as yet imprisoned in their cells of clay。 A male Anthophora；
hatched a little earlier than the females； appears in the entrance of the
tunnel； these mites； which are armed with robust talons； rouse themselves；
hasten to and fro； hook themselves to his fleece； and accompany him in all
his peregrinations； but they quickly recognize their error； for these
animated specks are well aware that the males； occupied all day long in
scouring the country and pillaging the flowers； live exclusively out of
doors； and would in no wise serve their end。 But the moment comes when the
Anthophora pays court to the fair sex； and the imperceptible creature
immediately profits by the amorous encounter to change its winged courser。
〃These pigmies therefore have a memory； an experience of facts〃 （and how
one is tempted to add； a glimmering of intelligence！）。 Grappled now to the
female bee； the grub of the Sitaris 〃conceals itself； and allows itself to
be carried by her〃 to the end of the gallery in which she is now contriving
her cradle； 〃watches the precise moment when the egg is laid； installs
itself upon it； and allows itself to fall therewith upon the surface of the
honey； in order to substitute itself for the future offspring of the
Anthophora； and possess itself of house and victuals。〃 （8/18。）
Another 〃little gelatinous speck；〃 〃a shadow of a creature；〃 the larva of a
Chalcidian； the Leucopsis； one of the parasites of the Mason…bee； knows
that in the cell of the mason there is food for one only。 Scarcely has it
entered the tiny dwelling but we see this 〃nameless shape〃 for several days
〃anxiously wandering； it visits the top and bottom； the back； the front；
the sides〃； it makes the tour of its domain； 〃it searches in the darkness；
palpitating； seemingly with an object in view。〃 What does this 〃animated
globule〃 want？ why is this atom so excited？ It is searching to discover if
there is not in some corner hitherto unexplored another larva； a rival；
that it may exterminate it！ （8/19。）
What then intrinsically is instinct？ And what intrinsically is
intelligence？
How can we propose to draw up the inexhaustible inventory of all the
manifestations of life； and why attempt to include all its species and
their unknown varieties in narrow classes？ Why say that there are only two
modes of life； instinct on the one hand and intelligence on the other；
〃when we know how subtle and illusive is this Proteus； and that there are
not two things only； but a thousand dissimilar things〃 （8/20。）： or rather
is it not always the same thing； everywhere present and acting in living
matter； and susceptible of infinite degrees； under forms and disguises
innumerable？
This is why it escapes the 〃scalpel of the masters〃 and the apparatus of
the chemists。 We may dissect； we may scrutinize organs under the magnifying
glass； examine wing…cases； count the nervures of the wings； the number of
articulations in the limbs； we may reckon every point； like Réaumur
forgetting not a line； not a hair； we may compare and measure every portion
of the mouth； and define the class； and we shall not find a single point in
all this physical architecture which will positively inform us of the
habits of the insect。 Of what account are a few slight differences？ It is
in the physical far more than in the anatomical differences that the
inviolable demarcation between two species exists。 Instincts dominate
forms； the tool does not make the artisan； 〃and none of these various
structures； however well adapted they may appear to us； bears within it its
reason or its finality。〃
Thus whatever opinion we may hold as to the nature of instinct； the
accomplishments and habits of insects are not； properly speaking； connected
with the external and visible form of their organs； and their acts do not
necessarily presuppose the instruments which would be appropriate to them。
We know that with most organisms； and particularly with plants； an almost
imperceptible variation in material circumstances is often enough to modify
their character and to produce fresh aptitudes。 Nevertheless； we can but
wonder； with Fabre； that physical modifications； which； when they do exist；
are so slight always as to have escaped the most perfect observation；
should have sufficed to determine the appearance of profoundly dissimilar
faculties。 Inexplicable abilities； unexpected habits； unforeseen physical
aptitudes； and unheard…of industries are exercised by means of organs which
are here and there practically identical。 〃The same tools are equally good
for any purpose。 Talent alone is able to adapt them to manifold ends。〃
The Anthidia have two particular industri