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as an interesting clinic； and while keeping the daily record of his medical
observations； he felt irresistibly drawn 〃to ferret in all the holes and
corners of the soil； to turn over every stone； large or small； to shrink
from no fatigue； no difficulty； to scale the highest peaks； the steepest
cliffs； to brave a thousand dangers； in order to discover an insect or a
plant。 （14/5。）
A disciple of Latreille； he shone above all as an impassioned descriptive
writer。
No one was more skilled in determining a species； in dissecting the head of
a fly or the entrails of a grub； and no spectacle in the world was for him
so fascinating as the triple life of the insect； those magical
metamorphoses； which he justly considered as one of the most astonishing
phenomena in creation。 （14/6。）
He saw further than Réaumur； and burned with the same fire as Fabre； for he
also had the makings of a great poet。 His curiosity had assembled enormous
collections； but he considered； as Fabre considered； that collecting is
〃only the barren contemplation of a vast ossuary which speaks only to the
eyes； and not to the mind or imagination；〃 and that the true history of
insects should be that of their habits； their industries； their battles；
their loves； and their private and social life； that one must 〃search
everywhere； on the ground； under the soil； in the waters； in the air； under
the bark of trees； in the depth of the woods； in the sands of the desert；
and even on and in the bodies of animals。〃
Was not this in reality the ambitious programme which Fabre was later to
propose to himself when he entered into his Harmas and founded his living
laboratory of entomology； he also having set himself as his exclusive
object the study of 〃the insects； the habits of life； the labours； the
struggles and the propagation of this little world； which agriculture and
philosophy should closely consider〃？ （14/7。）
Dufour also had admirably grasped the place of the insect in the general
harmony of the universe； and he clearly perceived that parasitism； that
imbrication of mutually usurping lives； is 〃a law of equilibration； whose
object is to set a limit to the excessive multiplication of individuals of
the same type；〃 that the parasites are predestined to an imprescriptible
mission； and that this mysterious law 〃defies all explanation。〃
On the other hand； he did not become very intimate with these tiny peoples；
his attention was dispersed over too many points； perhaps he was
fundamentally incapable of concentrating himself for a long period upon a
circumscribed object； perhaps he lacked that first condition of genius；
patience； so essential to such researches： although he enriched science by
an infinite multitude of precious facts and has recorded a quantity of
details concerning the habits of insects； he did not succeed in
representing any one of these innumerable little minds。 He had an intense
feeling for nature； but he was not able to interpret it； and his immense
volume of work； scattered through nearly three hundred monographs； remains
ineffective。
Let us compare with his work the vast epic of the 〃Souvenirs。〃 We become
familiar with the whole life of the least insect； and all its unending
related circumstances； we obtain sudden glimpses of insight into our own
organization； with its abysses and its lacunae； and also into those rich
provinces or faculties which we are only beginning to suspect in the depths
of our unconscious activity。
In the evening twilight； after the vast andante of the cicadae is hushed；
at the hour when the shining glow…worms 〃light their blue fires；〃 and the
〃pale Italian cricket； delirious with its nocturnal madness； chirrups among
the rosemary thickets；〃 while in the distance sounds the melodious tinkle
of the bell…ringer frogs； replying from one hiding…place to another； the
old master shows us that profound and mysterious magic with which matter is
endowed by the faintest glimmer of life。
He shows us the intimate connection of things； the universal harmony which
so intimately allies all creatures； and he shows us also that everywhere
and all around us； in the smallest object； poetry exists like a hidden
flame； if only we know how to seek it。
And in revealing so many marvellous energies in even the lowest creatures；
he helps us to divine the infinity of phenomena still unguessed…at； which
the subtlety of the unknowable force which thrills through the whole
universe hides from us under the most trivial appearances。
For he has not told everything； this incommensurable region； which had
hitherto remained unworked； is far from being exhausted。
How many unknown and hidden things are still left to be gleaned！ There will
be a harvest for all。 Remember that 〃even the humblest species either has
no history； or the little that has been written concerning it calls for
serious revision〃 （14/8。）； that a single bush； such as the bramble；
suffices to rear more than fifty species of insects； and that each species；
according to the just observation of Réaumur； 〃has its habits； its tricks
of cunning； its customs； its industries； its art； its architecture； its
different instincts； and its individual genius。〃
What a stupendous alphabet to decipher； of which we have as yet only
commenced to read the first few letters！ When we are able to read it almost
entirely； when observers are more numerous and have concerted their
efforts； mutually illuminating； completing and correcting one another；
then； and then only； we shall succeed； if not in resolving some of those
high problems which have never ceased to interest mankind； at least in
seizing some reflected knowledge of ourselves； and in seeing a little
farther into the kingdom of the mind。
CHAPTER 15。 THE EVENINGS AT SéRIGNAN。
But it will doubtless be long before a new Fabre will resume； with the same
heroic ardour； the life of solitary labour； varied only by a few austere
recreations。
Rising at six o'clock； he would first of all pace the tiles of his kitchen；
breakfast in hand； so imperious in him was the need of action； if his mind
was to work successfully； that even at this moment of morning meditation
his body must already be in movement。 Then； after many turns among the
bushes of the enclosure； all irised with drops of dew which were already
evaporating； he went straight to his cell： that is； to the silence of his
laboratory。
There； in unsociable silence； invisible to all； he worked hard and steadily
until noon； pursuing an observation or carrying out some experiment； or
recording what he saw or what he had seen the day before； or re…drafting
his records in their final form。
How many who have come hither to knock upon the door in these morning
hours； or to ring at the little gate； silent as the tomb； which gives upon
the private path frequented only by foot…passengers on their way to the
fields； have undertaken a fruitless journey！ But wit