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trees； 〃leaving behind it； in the form of dry…rot； the refuse of its
digestive processes；〃 is 〃a scrap of intestine which eats its way as it
goes。〃
In 〃that hideous lout〃 the Scorpion he shows us a rough epitome of the
shapeless head； the truncated face of the spider。
The Tachinae； those 〃brazen diptera〃 which swarm on the sunny sand on the
watch for Bembex or Philanthus； in order to establish their offspring at
its expense； 〃are bandits clad in fustian； the head wrapped in a red
handkerchief； awaiting the hour of attack！〃
The Languedocian Sphex； sprawling flat upon the vine leaves； grows dizzy
with the heat and frisks for very pleasure； 〃with its feet it taps rapidly
on its resting…place； and thus produces a drumming like that of a shower of
rain falling thickly on the leaves。〃 Fabre takes a keen delight in the
production of these pictures； at once so exact and lifelike； but we must
not therefore suppose that his mind is incapable of the detailed
descriptions necessitated by the laborious processes of minute anatomy。
Like all sciences； entomology has its uninteresting aspects when we seek to
study it deeply。 Yet with what interest and lucidity has Fabre succeeded in
expounding the complex morphoses of the obscure and miserable larva of the
Sitaris； the curious intestine of the Scarabaeus； the secret of the
spawning of the weevil； and the ingenious mechanisms of the musical
instruments of the Decticus and the Cicada。 With what subtle art he
explains the song of the cricket； how the five hundred prisms of the
serrated bow set the four tympana in vibration； and how the song is
sometimes muffled by a process of muting。 （12/10。）
Some of the images suggested to him by the forms of animals are so
beautiful that certain of his descriptions might well serve to inspire an
artist； or suggest new motives of decoration in the arts of enamelling；
gem…engraving； jewellery； etc。
Instead of eternally copying ancient things； or seeking inspiration in
lifeless texts； why not turn our attention to the numerous and interesting
motives which are scattered all around us； whose originality consists
precisely in the fact that they have never yet been employed？ Why torture
the mind to produce more painful elaborations of awkward； frozen； poverty…
stricken combinations； when Nature herself is at hand； offering the
inexhaustible casket of her living marvels； full of the profoundest logic
and as yet unexamined？
If the bee by means of the hexagonal prism has anticipated all the
geometers in the problem of the economy of space and matter； if the Epe？ra
and the mollusc have invented the logarithmic spiral and its transcendent
properties； if all creatures 〃inspired by an aesthetic which nothing
escapes； achieve the beautiful〃 （12/11。）； surely human art； which can but
imitate and remember； has only to employ to its profit and transfigure into
ideal images the natural beauties so profusely furnished by the
Unconscious。
Modern art； influenced more especially by the subtle Japanese； is already
treading this path。
What artist could ever engrave on rare metals or model in precious
substances a more beautiful subject than the wonderful picture of the
Tarantula offering； at the length of her extended limbs； her white sac of
eggs to the sun； or the transparent nymph of the Onthophagus taurus； 〃as
though carved from a block of crystal； with its wide snout and its enormous
horns like those of the Aurochs〃？ （12/12。） What an undiscovered subject he
might find in the nymph of the Ergatus （12/13。）； with its almost
incorporeal grace； as though made of 〃translucent ivory； like a communicant
in her white veils； the arms crossed upon the breast； a living symbol of
mystic resignation before the accomplishment of destiny〃； or in the still
more mysterious nymph of the Scarabaeus sacer； first of all 〃a mummy of
translucent amber； maintained by its linen cerements in a hieratic pose；
but soon upon this background of topaz； the head； the legs； and the thorax
change to a sombre red； while the rest of the body remains white； and the
nymph is slowly transfigured； assuming that majestic costume which combines
the red of the cardinal's mantle with the whiteness of the sacerdotal alb。〃
On the other hand； what Sims or Bateman ever imagined weirder caricature
than the grotesque larva of the Oniticella； with its extravagant dorsal
hump； or the fantastic and alarming silhouette of the Empusa； with its
scaly belly raised crozierwise and mounted on four long stilts； its pointed
face； turned…up moustaches； great prominent eyes； and a 〃stupendous mitre〃：
the most grotesque； the most fantastic freaks that creation can ever have
evolved？ （12/14。）
CHAPTER 13。 THE EPIC OF ANIMAL LIFE。
Although in his portraits and descriptions Fabre is simple and exact； and
so full of natural geniality； although he can so handle his words as to
render them 〃adequate〃 to reproduce the moving pictures of the tiny
creatures he observes； his style touches a higher level； flashes with
colour； and grows rich with imagery when he seeks to interpret the feelings
which animate them： their loves； their battles； their cunning schemes； and
the pursuit of their prey； all that vast drama which everywhere accompanies
the travail of creation。
It is here in particular that Fabre shows us what horizons； as yet almost
unexplored； what profound and inexhaustible resources science is able to
offer poetry。
The breaking of egg or chrysalid is in itself a moving event； for to attain
to the light is for all these creatures 〃a prodigious travail。〃
The hour of spring has sounded。 At the call of the field…cricket； the
herald of the spring； the germs that slumber in nymph or chrysalis have
broken through their spell。
What haste and ingenuity are required to emerge from the natal darkness； to
unwrap the swaddling…bands； to break the subterranean shells； to demolish
the waxen bulkheads； to perforate the soil or to escape from prisons of
silk！
The woodland bug； whose egg is a masterpiece； invents I know not what
magical centre…bit； what curious piece of locksmith's work； in order to
unlock its natal casket and achieve its liberty。
For days the grasshopper 〃butts its head against the roughness of the soil；
and wars upon the pebbles； by dint of frantic wriggling it escapes from the
womb of the earth； bursts its old coat； and is transfigured； opening its
eyes to the light； and leaping for the first time。〃
The Bombyx of the pine…tree 〃decks its brow with points of diamond； spreads
its wings； and erects its plumes； and shakes out its fleece to fly only in
the darkness； to wed the same night； and to die on the morrow。〃
What marvellous inventions； what machinery； what incredible contrivances；
〃in order that a tiny fly can emerge from under ground〃！
The Anthrax assumes a panoply of trepans； an assortment of gimlets and
knives； harpoons and grapnels； in order to perf