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knives； harpoons and grapnels； in order to perforate its ceiling of cement；
then the lugubrious black fly appears； all moist as yet with the humours of
the laboratory of life； steadies itself upon its trembling legs； dries its
wings； quits its suit of armour； and takes flight。〃
The blue…fly； buried in the depth of the sand； 〃cracks its barrel…shaped
coffin；〃 and splits its mask； in order to disinter itself； the head divides
into two halves； between which we see emerging and disappearing by turns a
monstrous tumour； which comes and goes； swells and shrivels； palpitates；
labours； lunges； and retires； thus compressing and gradually undermining
the sand； until at last the newborn fly emerges from the depth of the
catacombs。 （13/1。）
Certain young spiders； in order to emancipate themselves； to conquer space；
and disperse themselves about the world； resort to an ingenious system of
aviation。 They gain the highest point of the thicket； and release a thread；
which； seized by the wind； carries them away suspended。 Each shines like a
point of light against the foliage of the cypresses。 There is a continuous
stream of tiny passengers； leaping and descending in scattered sheaves
under the caresses of the sun； like atomic projectiles； like the fountain
of fire at a pyrotechnic display。 What a glorious departure； what an entry
into the world！ Gripping its aeronautic thread； the insect ascends in
apotheosis！ （13/2。）
But if all are called all are not chosen。 〃How many can move only at the
greatest peril under the rugged earth； proceeding from shock to shock； in
the harsh womb of universal life； and； arrested by a grain of sand； succumb
half…way〃！
There are others whom slower metamorphoses condemn to vegetate still longer
in the subterranean night； before they are permitted to assume their
festival attire； and share in their turn in the gladness of creation。
Thus the Cicada is forced to labour for long gloomy years in the darkness
before it can emerge from the soil。 At the moment when it issues from the
earth the larva； soiled with mire； 〃resembles a sewer…man； its eyes are
whitish； nebulous； squinting； blind。〃 Then 〃it clings to some twig； it
splits down the back； rejects its discarded skin； drier than horny
parchment； and becomes the Cigale； which is at first of a pale grass…green
hue。〃 Then；
〃Half drunken with her joy； she feasts
In a hail of fire〃；
And all day long drinks of the sugared sap of tender bark； and is silent
only at night； sated with light and heat。 The song； which forms part of the
majestic symphony of the harvest…tide； announces merely its delight in
existence。 Having passed years underground； the cigale has only a month to
reign； to be happy in a world of light； under the caressing sun。 Judge
whether the wild little cymbals can ever be loud enough 〃to celebrate such
felicity； so well earned and so ephemeral〃！ （13/3。）
All sing for happiness； each after its kind； through the calm of the summer
days。 Their minds are intoxicated； it is their fashion of praying； of
adoring； of expressing 〃the joys of life： a full crop and the sun on the
back。〃 Even the humble grasshopper rubs its flanks to express its joy；
raises and lowers its shanks till its wing…cases squeak； and is enchanted
with its own music； which it commences or terminates suddenly 〃according to
the alternations of sun and shade。〃 Each insect has its rhythm； strident or
barely perceptible； the music of the thickets and fallows caressed by the
sun； rising and falling in waves of joyful life。
The insects make merry； they hold uproarious festival； and they mate
insatiably； even before forming a mutual acquaintance； in a furious rush of
living； for 〃love is the sole joy of the animal；〃 and 〃to love is to die。〃
Hardly unwrapped； still dusty from the strenuous labour of deliverance；
〃the female of the Scolia is seized by the male； who does not even give her
time to wash her eyes。〃 Having slept over a year underground； the Sitares；
barely rid of their mummy…cases； taste； in the sunlight； a few minutes of
love； on the very site of their re…birth； then they die。 Life surges；
burns； flares； sparkles； rushes 〃in a perpetual tide；〃 a brief radiance
between two nights。
A world of a myriad fairies fills the rustling forest： day and night it
unfolds a thousand marvellous pictures； about the root of a bramble； in the
shadow of an old wall； on a slope of loose soil； or in the dense thickets。
〃The insect is transfigured for the nuptial ceremony； and each hopes； in
its ritual； to declare its passion。〃 Fabre had some thought of writing the
Golden Book of their bridals and their wedding festivals （13/4。）； the
Kamasutra of their feasts and rules of love； and with what art； at once
frank and reserved； has he here and there handled this wonderful theme！ In
the radiant garden of delight； where no detail of truth is omitted； but
where nothing shocks us； Fabre reveals himself as he is in his
conversation； evading the subject where it takes a licentious turn；
fundamentally chaste and extremely reserved。
At the foot of the rocks the Psyche 〃appears in the balcony of her boudoir；
in the rays of the caressing sun； lying on the cloudy softness of an
incomparable eider…down。〃 She awaits the visit of the spouse； 〃the gentle
Bombyx；〃 who； for the ceremony； 〃has donned his feathery plumes and his
mantle of black velvet。〃 〃If he is late in coming； the female grows
impatient； then she herself makes the advances； and sets forth in search of
her mate。〃
Drawn by the same voluptuous and overwhelming force； the cricket ventures
to leave his burrow。 Adorned 〃in his fairest attire； black jacket； more
beauteous than satin； with a stripe of carmine on the thigh；〃 he wanders
through the wild herbage； 〃by the discreet glimmer of twilight；〃 until he
reaches the distant lodging of the beloved。 There at last he arrives 〃upon
the sanded walk； the court of honour that precedes the entry。〃 But already
the place is occupied by another aspirant。 Then the two rivals fall upon
one another； biting one another's heads； 〃until it ends by the retreat of
the weaker； whom the victor insults by a bravura cry。〃 The happy champion
bridles； assuming a proud air； as of one who knows himself a handsome
fellow； before the fair one； who feigns to hide herself behind her tuft of
aphyllantus； all covered with azure flowers。 〃With a gesture of a fore…limb
he passes one of his antennae through his mandibles as though to curl it；
with his long…spurred； red…striped legs he shuffles with impatience； he
kicks the empty air； but emotion renders him mute。〃 （13/5。）
In the foliage of the ash…tree the lover of the female Cantharis thrashes
his companion； who makes herself as small as she can； hiding her head in
her bosom； he bangs her with his fists； buffets her with his abdomen；
〃subjects her to an erotic storm； a rain of blows〃； then； with his arms
crossed； he remains a moment motionless and trembli