Towritethestoryofafly！Thegreatertheheat，thebettermychanceofsuccess。Whatcausesmetosuffertorturefillstheinsectwithdelight;whatprostratesmebracesthefly。Comealong！
Theroadshimmerslikeasheetofmoltensteel。Fromthedustyandmelancholyolivetreesrisesamighty，throbbinghum，agreatandantewhoseexecutantshavethewholesweepofwoodsfortheirorchestra。’TistheconcertoftheCicada，whosebelliesswayandrustlewithincreasingfrenzyasthetemperaturerises。ThestridentscrapingsoftheCicadaoftheAsh，theCarcanofthedistrict，lendtheirrhythmtotheonenotesymphonyofthecommoncicada。Thisisthemoment:comealong！And，forfiveorsixweeks，oftenestinthemorning，sometimesintheafternoon，Isetmyselftoexploretheflintyplateau。
TheChalicodoma’snestsabound，butIcannotseeasingleAnthraxmakeablackspeckupontheirsurface。Notone，busywithherlaying，settlesinfrontofme。Atmost，fromtimetotime，Icanjustseeonepassingfaraway，withanimpetuousrush。Iloseherinthedistance;andthatisall。Itisimpossibletobepresentatthelayingoftheegg。IknowthelittlethatIlearntfromthecliffsintheLegueandnothingmore。
AssoonasIrecognizethedifficulty，Ihastentoenlistassistants。Shepherds——meresmallboys——keepthesheepinthesestonymeadows，wheretheflocksgraze，tothegreatergloryofourlocalmutton，onthecamphorsaturatedbadafo，thatistosay，spikelavender。IexplainaswellasIcantheobjectofmysearch;ItalktothemofabigblackFlyandthenestsonwhichsheoughttosettle，theclaynestssowellknowntothosewhohavelearnthowtoextractthehoneywithastrawinspringtimeandspreaditonacrustofbread。Theyaretowatchthatflyandtakegoodnoteofthenestsonwhichtheymayseeheralight;and，onthesameevening，whentheybringtheirflocksbacktothevillage，theyaretotellmetheresultoftheirday’swork。Onreceivingtheirfavorablereport，Iwillgowiththem，nextday，tocontinuetheobservations。Theyshallbepaidfortheirtrouble，ofcourse。
TheselatterdayCorydonshavenotthemannersofantiquity:theyrecklittleofthesevenholedflutecementedwithwax，orofthebeechenbowl，preferringthecoppersthatwilltakethemtothevillageinnonSunday。Arewardinreadymoneyispromisedforeachnestthatfulfilsthedesiredconditions;andthebargainisenthusiasticallyaccepted。
Therearethreeofthem;andImakeafourth。Shallwemanageit，amongusall？Ithoughtso。BytheendofAugust，however，mylastillusionsweredispelled。NotoneofushadsucceededinseeingthebigblackFlyperchingonthedomeofthemasonbee。
Ourfailure，itseemstome，canbeexplainedthus:outsidethespaciousfrontoftheAnthophora’ssettlement，theAnthraxisinpermanentresidence。Shevisits，onthewing，everynookandcorner，withoutmovingawayfromthenativecliff，becauseitwouldbeuselesstogofarther。Thereisboardandlodginghere，indefinitely，forallherfamily。Whensomespotisdeemedfavorable，shehoversroundinspectingit，thencomesupsuddenlyandstrikesitwiththetipofherabdomen。Thethingisdone，theeggislaid。SoIpictureit，atleast。Withinaradiusofafewyardsandinaflightbrokenbyshortintervalsofrestinthesun，shecarriesonhersearchoflikelyplacesforthelayinganddisseminationofhereggs。Theinsect’sassiduousattendanceuponthesameslopeiscausedbytheinexhaustiblewealthofthelocalityexploited。
TheAnthraxoftheChalicodomalaborsunderverydifferentconditions。Stay—at—homehabitswouldbedetrimentaltoher。Withherrushingflight，madeeasybythelongandpowerfulspreadofherwings，shemusttravelfarandwideifshewouldfoundacolony。Thebee’snestsarenotdiscoveredingroups，butoccursinglyontheirpebbles，scatteredmoreorlesseverywhereoveracresofground。Tofindasingleoneisnotenoughforthefly:
onaccountofthemanyparasites，notallthecells，byalongway，containthedesiredlarva;others，toowellprotected，wouldnotallowofaccesstotheprovisions。Verymanynestsarenecessary，perhaps，fortheeggsofonealone;andthefindingofthemcallsforlongjourneys。
IthereforepicturetheAnthraxcomingandgoingineverydirectionacrossthestonyplain。Herpracticedeyerequiresnoslackenedflighttodistinguishtheearthendomewhichsheisseeking。
Havingfoundit，sheinspectsitfromabove，stillonthewing;shetapsitonceandyetonceagainwiththetipofherovipositorandforthwithmakesoff，withouthavingsetfootontheground。Shouldshetakearest，itwillbeelsewhere，nomatterwhere，onthesoil，onastone，onatuftoflavenderorthyme。Giventhesehabits——andmyobservationsintheCarpentrasroadsmakethemseemexceedinglyprobable——itissmallwonderthattheperspicacityofmyyoungshepherdsandmyselfshouldhavecometonaught。Iwasexpectingtheimpossible:theAnthraxdoesnothaltonthemasonbee’snesttoproceedwithherlayinginamethodicalfashion;shemerelypaysaflyingvisit。
AndsoIdevelopmytheoryofaprimarylarvalform，differingineverywayfromtheonewhichIknow。TheorganizationoftheAnthraxmustbesuch，atthebeginning，astopermitofitsmovingonthesurfaceofthedomewheretheegghasbeendroppedsocarelessly;thenascentgrubmustbesuppliedwithtoolstopiercetheconcretewallandentertheBee’scellthroughsomecranny。
Theflygrub，perhapsdraggingtheremnantsoftheeggbehindit，mustsetoutinquestofboardandlodgingalmostassoonasitisborn。Itwillsucceedundertheguidanceofinstinct，thatfacultywhichwaitsnottonumberthedaysandwhichisasfarseeingatthemomentofhatchingasafterthetrialsofabusylife。Thisprimarygrubdoesnotseemtomeoutsidethelimitsofpossibility;
Iseeit，ifnotinthebody，atleastinitsactions，asplainlyasthoughitwerereallyunderthelens。Itexists，ifreasonbenotavainandemptyguide;Imustfindit;Ishallfindit。Neverinthehistoryofmyinvestigationshasthelogicofthingsbeenmoreinsistent;neverhasitdirectedmewithgreatercertaintytowardsamagnificentbiologicaltheory。
Whilevainlytryingtowitnessthelayingoftheeggs，Iinquire，atthesametime，intothecontentsoftheMasonbee’snests，inquestofthegrubjustissuedfromtheegg。Myownharvestandthatofmyyoungshepherds，whosezealIemployinatasklessdifficultthanthefirst，procuremeheapsofnests，enoughtofillbasketsandbaskets。Theseareallinspectedatleisure，onmyworktable，withtheexcitementwhichthecertaintyofanapproachingfinediscoveryneverfailstogive。TheMason’scocoonsaretakenfromthecells，inspectedwithout，openedandinspectedwithin。Mylensexplorestheirinnermostrecesses;speckbyspeck，itexplorestheChalicodoma’sslumberinglarva;itexplorestheinnerwallsofthecells。Nothing，nothing，nothing！
Forafortnightandmore，nestswererejectedandheapedupinacorner;mystudywascrammedwiththem。Whathecatombsofunfortunatesleepersremovedfromtheirsilkenbagsanddoomed，forthemostpart，toawretchedend，despitethecarewhichItooktoputtheminaplaceofsafety，wheretheworkofthetransformationmightbepursued！Curiositymakesuscruel。Icontinuetoripupcocoons。Andnothing，nothing！Itneededthesturdiestfaithtomakemepersevere。ThatfaithIpossessed;andwellformethatI
did。
Onthe25thofJuly——thedatedeservestoberecorded——Isaw，orratherseemedtosee，somethingmoveontheChalicodoma’slarva。
Wasitanillusionbornofmyhopes？Wasitabitofdiaphanousdownstirredbymybreath？Itwasnotanillusion，itwasnotabitofdown，itwasreallyandtrulyagrub。Whatamoment，followedbywhatperplexities！ThethinghasnothingincommonwiththelarvaoftheAnthrax，itsuggestsrathersomemicroscopicThreadwormthat，byaccident，hasmadeitswaythroughtheskinofitshostandcometoenjoyitselfoutside。Idonotreckonmydiscoveryasofmuchvalue，becauseIamsogreatlypuzzledbythecreature’sappearance。Nomatter:wewilltakeasmallglasstubeandplaceinsideittheChalicodomagrubandthemysteriousthingwrigglingonthesurface。SupposeitshouldbewhatIamlookingfor？Whoknows？
OncewarnedoftheprobabledifficultyofseeingtheanimalculeforwhichIamhunting，Iredoublemyattention，somuchsothat，inacoupleofdays，Iamtheownerofhalfascoreoftinywormssimilartotheonewhichcausedmesuchexcitement。EachofthemislodgedinaglasstubewithitsChalicodomagrub。Theinfinitesimalthingissosmall，sodiaphanous，blendstosuchgoodpurposewithitshostthattheleastfoldofskinconcealsitfrommyview。Afterwatchingitonedaythroughthelens，Isometimesfailtofinditagainonthemorrow。IthinkthatIhavelostit，thatithasperishedundertheweightoftheoverturnedlarvaandreturnedtothatnothingtowhichitwassocloselyakin。ThenitmovesandIseeitagain。Forawholefortnight，therewasnolimittomyperplexity。WasitreallytheoriginallarvaoftheAnthrax？Yes，forIatlastsawmybantlingstransformthemselvesintothelarvapreviouslydescribedandmaketheirfirststartatdrainingtheirvictimswithkisses。AfewmomentsofsatisfactionlikethosewhichIthenenjoyedmakeupformanyawearyhour。
Letusresumethestoryoftheweeanimal，nowrecognizedasthegenuineoriginoftheAnthrax。Itisatinywormaboutamillimeterlongandalmostasslenderasahair。Itisverydifficulttoseebecauseofitstransparency。Whentuckedawayinafoldoftheskinofitsfosteringlarva，anexcessivelyfineskin，itremainsundiscoverabletothelens。Butthefeeblecreatureisveryactive:ittrampsoverthesidesoftherichmorsel，walksallroundit。Itcoversthegroundprettyquickly，bucklingandunbucklingbyturns，verymuchafterthemanneroftheloopercaterpillar。Itstwoextremitiesareitschiefpointsofsupport。Whenatastandstill，itmovesitsfronthalfineverydirection，asthoughtoexplorethespacearoundit;whenwalking，itswellsout，magnifiesitssegmentsandthenlookslikeabitofknottedstring。
Themicroscopeshowsusthirteenrings，includingthehead。Thisheadissmall，slightlyhorny，asisprovedbyitsambercolor，andbristlesinfrontwithasmallnumberofshort，stiffhairs。Oneachofthethreesegmentsofthethoraxtherearetwolonghairs，fixedtothelowersurface;andtherearetwosimilarandstilllongerhairsattheendoftheterminalring。Thesefourpairsofbristles，threeinfrontandonebehind，arethelocomotoryorgans，towhichwemustaddthehairyedgeoftheheadandalsotheanalbutton，asustainingbasewhichmightverywellworkwiththeaidofacertainstickiness，ashappenswiththeprimarylarvaoftheSitaris[aParasiticBeetlenotedforthemultiplicityoftransformationsundergonebythegrub]。Wesee，throughthetransparentskin，twolongairtubesrunningparalleltoeachotherfromthefirstthoracicsegmenttothelastabdominalsegmentbutone。TheyoughttoendintwopairsofbreathingholeswhichI
havenotsucceededindistinguishingquiteplainly。Thosetwobigrespiratoryvesselsarecharacteristicofthegrubsofflies。
TheirmouthscorrespondexactlywiththepointsatwhichthetwosetsofstigmataopenintheAnthraxlarvainitssecondform。
Forafortnight，thefeeblegrubremainsintheconditionwhichI
havedescribed，withoutgrowingandveryprobablyalsowithoutnourishment。Assiduousthoughmyvisitsbe，Ineverperceiveittakinganyrefreshment。Besides，whatwoulditeat？Inthecocooninvadedthereisnothingbutthelarvaofthemasonbee;andthewormcannotmakeuseofthisbeforeacquiringthesuckerthatcomeswiththesecondform。Nevertheless，thislifeofabstinenceisnotalifeofidleness。Theanimalculeexploresitsdish，nowhere，nowelsewhere;itrunsalloveritwithlooperstrides;itpriesintotheneighborhoodbyliftingandshakingitshead。
Iseeaneedforthislongwaitunderatransitoryformthatrequiresnofeeding。Theeggislaidbythemotheronthesurfaceofthenest，somewherenearasuitablecell，Idaresay，butstillatadistancefromthefosteringlarva，whichisprotectedbyathickrampart。Itisforthenewborngrubtomakeitsownwaytotheprovisions，notbyviolenceandhousebreaking，ofwhichitisincapable，butbypatientlyslippingthroughamazeofcracks，firsttried，thenabandoned，thentriedagain。Itisaverydifficulttask，evenforthismostslenderworm，forthebee’smasonryisexceedinglycompact。Therearenochinksduetobadbuilding;nofissuresduetotheweather;nothingbutanapparentlyimpenetrablehomogeneity。Iseebutoneweakpartandthatonlyinafewnests:itisthelinewherethedomejoinsthesurfaceofthestone。Animperfectsolderingbetweentwomaterialsofdifferentnature，cementandflint，mayleaveabreachwideenoughtoadmitbesiegersasthinasahair。Nevertheless，thelensisfarfromalwaysfindinganinletofthiskindonthenestsoccupiedbyAnthraxflies。
AndsoIamreadytoallowthattheanimalculewanderinginsearchofitscellhasthewholeareaofthedomeatitsdisposalwhenselectinganentrance。WherethelineaugeroftheLeucospiscanenter，istherenotroomenoughfortheevenslimmerAnthraxgrub？
True，theLeucospispossessesmuscularforceandahardboringtool。TheAnthraxisextremelyweakandhasnothingbutinvinciblepatience。Itdoesatgreatlengthoftimewhattheother，furnishedwithsuperiorimplements，accomplishesinthreehours。
ThisexplainsthefortnightspentbytheAnthraxundertheinitialform，theobjectofwhichistoovercometheobstacleofthemason’swall，topiercethroughthetextureofthecocoonandtoreachthevictuals。
Ievenbelievethatittakeslonger。Theworkissolaboriousandtheworkersofeeble！Icannottellhowlongitissincemybantlingsattainedtheirobject。Perhaps，aidedbyeasyroads，theyhadreachedtheirfosteringlarvaelongbeforethecompletionoftheirfirstbabyhood，theendofwhichtheywerespendingbeforemyeyes，withnoapparentpurpose，inexploringtheirprovisions。
Thetimehadnotyetcomeforthemtochangetheirskinsandtaketheirseatsatthetable。Theirfellowsmuststill，forthemostpart，bewanderingthroughtheporesofthemasonry;andthiswaswhatmademysearchsovainatthestart。
Afewfactsseemtosuggestthattheentranceintothecellmaybedelayedforseveralmonthsbythedifficultyofthepassages。
ThereareafewAnthraxgrubsbesidetheremainsofpupaenotfarremovedfromthefinalmetamorphosis;thereareothers，butveryrarely，onMasonbeesalreadyintheperfectstate。Thesegrubsaresicklyandappeartobeailing;theprovisionsaretoosolidanddonotlendthemselvestothedelicatesucklingoftheworms。
Whocantheselaggardsbebutanimalculesthathaveroamedtoolonginthewallsofthenest？Failingtomaketheirentranceatthepropertime，theynolongerfindviandstosuitthem。TheprimarylarvaoftheSitariscontinuesfromtheautumntothefollowingspring。EvensotheinitialformoftheAnthraxmightwellcontinue，notininactivity，butinstubbornattemptstoovercomethethickbulwark。
Myyoungworms，whentransferredwiththeirprovisionsintotubes，remainedstationary，ontheaverage，foracoupleofweeks。Atlast，IsawthemshrinkandthenridthemselvesoftheirepidermisandbecomethegrubwhichIwassoanxiouslyexpectingasthefinalreplytoallmydoubts。Itwasindeed，fromthefirst，thegruboftheAnthrax，thecream—coloredcylinderwiththelittlebuttonofahead，followedbyahump。Applyingitscuppingglasstothemasonbee，theworm，withoutdelay，beganitsmeal，whichlastsanotherfortnight。Thereaderknowstherest。
Beforetakingleaveoftheanimalcule，letusdevoteafewlinestoitsinstinct。Ithasjustawakenedtolifeunderthefiercekissesofthesun。Thebarestoneisitscradle，theroughclayitswelcomer，asitmakesitsentranceintotheworld，apoorthreadofscarcecoheringalbumen。Butsafetylieswithin;andbeholdtheatomofanimatedglairembarkingonitsstrugglewiththeflint。
Obstinately，itsoundseachpore;itslipsin，crawlson，retreats，beginsagain。TheradicalofthegerminatingseedisnomoreperseveringinitseffortstodescendintothecoolearththanistheAnthraxgrubincreepingintothelumpofmortar。Whatinspirationurgesittowardsitsfoodatthebottomoftheclod，whatcompassguidesit？Whatdoesitknowofthosedepths，ofwhatliesthereinorwhere？Nothing。Whatdoestherootknowoftheearth’sfruitfulness？Againnothing。Yetbothmakeforthenourishingspot。Theoriesareputforward，mostlearnedtheories，introducingcapillaryaction，osmosisandcellularimbibition，toexplainwhythecaulicleascendsandtheradicaldescends。Shallphysicalorchemicalforcesexplainwhytheanimalculedigsintothehardclay？Ibowprofoundly，withoutunderstandingoreventryingtounderstand。Thequestionisfarabove，ourinanemeans。
ThebiographyoftheAnthraxisnowcomplete，saveforthedetailsrelatingtotheegg，asyetunknown。Inthevastmajorityofinsectssubjecttometamorphoses，thehatchingyieldsthelarvalformwhichwillremainunchangeduntilthenymphosis。Byvirtueofaremarkablevariation，revealinganewveinofobservationtotheentomologist，theAnthraxflies，inthelarvalstate，assumetwosuccessiveshapes，differinggreatlyonefromtheother，bothinstructureandinthepartwhichtheyarecalledupontoplay。I
willdescribethisdoublestageoftheorganismbythephrase’larvaldimorphism。’Theinitialform，thatissuingfromtheegg，I
willcall’theprimarylarva;’thesecondformshallbe’thesecondarylarva。’AmongtheAnthraxflies，thefunctionoftheprimarylarvaistoreachtheprovisions，onwhichthemotherisunabletolayheregg。Itiscapableofmovingandendowedwithambulatorybristles，whichallowtheslimcreaturetoglidethroughthesmallestintersticesinthewallofaBee’snest，toslipthroughthewoofofthecocoonandtomakeitswaytothelarvaintendedforitssuccessor’sfood。Whenthisobjectisattained，itspartisplayed。Thenappearsthesecondarylarva，deprivedofanymeansofprogression。Relegatedtotheinsideoftheinvadedcell，asincapableofleavingitbyitsowneffortsasitwasofentering，thisonehasnomissioninlifebutthatofeating。Itisastomachthatloadsitself，digestsandgoesonaddingtoitsreserves。Nextcomesthepupa，armedfortheexitevenastheprimarylarvawasequippedforentering。Whenthedeliveranceisaccomplished，theperfectinsectappears，busywithitslaying。
TheAnthraxcycleisthusdividedintofourperiods，eachofwhichcorrespondswithspecialformsandfunctions。Theprimarylarvaentersthecasketcontainingprovisions;thesecondarylarvaconsumestheseprovisions;thepupabringstheinsecttolightbyboringthroughtheenclosingwall;theperfectinsectstrewsitseggs;andthecyclestartsafresh。
CHAPTERVHEREDITY
FactswhichIhavesetforthelsewhereprovethatcertaindungbeetles’makeanexceptiontotheruleofpaternalindifference——ageneralruleintheinsectworld——andknowsomethingofdomesticcooperation。Thefatherworkswithalmostthesamezealasthemotherinprovidingforthesettlementofthefamily。Whencedothesefavoredonesderiveagiftthatbordersonmorality？
Onemightsuggestthecostofinstallingtheyoungsters。Oncetheyhavetobefurnishedwithalodgingandtobeleftthewherewithaltolive，isitnotanadvantage，intheinterestsoftherace，thatthefathershouldcometothemother’sassistance？Workdividedbetweenthetwowillensurethecomfortwhichsolitarywork，itsstrengthovertaxed，woulddeny。Thisseemsexcellentreasoning;
butitismuchmoreoftencontradictedthanconfirmedbythefacts。
WhyistheSisyphusahardworkingpaterfamiliasandthesacredbeetleanidlevagabond？Andyetthetwopillrollerspracticethesameindustryandthesamemethodofrearingtheiryoung。WhydoestheLunaryCoprisknowwhathisnearkinsman，theSpanishCopris，doesnot？Thefirstassistshismate，neverforsakesher。Thesecondseeksadivorceatanearlystageandleavesthenuptialroofbeforethechildren’srationsaremassedandkneadedintoshape。Nevertheless，onbothsides，thereisthesamebigoutlayonacellarfulofegg—shapedpills，whoseneatrowscallforlongandwatchfulsupervision。Thesimilarityoftheproduceleadsonetobelieveinsimilarityofmanners;andthisisamistake。
Letusturnelsewhere，tothewaspsandbees，whounquestionablycomefirstinthelayingupofaheritagefortheiroffspring。
Whetherthetreasurehoardedforthebenefitofthesonsbeapotofhoneyorabagofgame，thefathernevertakesthesmallestpartinthework。Hedoesnotsomuchasgiveasweepofthebroomwhenitcomestotidyingtheoutsideofthedwelling。Todonothingishisinvariablerule。Thebringingupofthefamily，therefore，howeverexpensiveitmaybeincertaincases，hasnotgivenrisetotheinstinctofpaternity。Thenwherearewetolookforareply？
Letusmakethequestionawiderone。Letusleavetheanimal，foramoment，andoccupyourselveswithman。Wehaveourowninstincts，someofwhichtakethenameofgeniuswhentheyattainadegreeofmightthattowersovertheplainofmediocrity。Weareamazedbytheunusual，springingoutofflatcommonplaces;wearespellboundbytheluminousspeckshininginthewonteddarkness。
Weadmire;and，failingtounderstandwhencecamethosegloriousharvestsinthisoneorinthat，wesayofthem:"Theyhavethegift。"
Agoatherdamuseshimselfbymakingcombinationswithheapsoflittlepebbles。Hebecomesanastoundinglyquickandaccuratereckonerwithoutotheraidthanamoment’sreflection。Heterrifiesuswiththeconflictofenormousnumberswhichblendinanorderlyfashioninhismind，butwhosemerestatementoverwhelmsusbyitsinextricableconfusion。Thismarvelousarithmeticaljugglerhasaninstinct，agenius，agiftforfigures。
Asecond，attheagewhenmostofusdelightintopsandmarbles，leavesthecompanyofhisboisterousplaymatesandlistenstotheechoofcelestialharpssingingwithinhim。Hisheadisacathedralfilledwiththestrainsofanimaginaryorgan。Richcadences，asecretconcertheardbyhimandhimalone，steephiminecstasy。Allhailtothatpredestinedonewho，someday，willrouseournoblestemotionswithhismusicalchords。Hehasaninstinct，agenius，agiftforsounds。
Athird，abratwhocannotyeteathisbreadandjamwithoutsmearinghisfaceallover，takesadelightinfashioningclayintolittlefiguresthatareastonishinglylifelikeforalltheirartlessawkwardness。Hetakesaknifeandmakesthebriarrootgrinintoallsortsofentertainingmasks;hecarvesboxwoodinthesemblanceofahorseorsheep;heengravestheeffigyofhisdogonsandstone。Leavehimalone;and，ifHeavensecondhisefforts，hemaybecomeafamoussculptor。Hehasaninstinct，agift，ageniusforform。
Andsowithothersineverybranchofhumanactivity:artandscience，industryandcommerce，literatureandphilosophy。Wehavewithinus，fromthestart，thatwhichwilldistinguishusfromthevulgarherd。Nowtowhatdoweowethisdistinctivecharacter？Tosomethrowbackofatavism，mentellus。Heredity，directinonecase，remoteinanother，handsitdowntous，increasedormodifiedbytime。Searchtherecordsofthefamilyandyouwilldiscoverthesourceofthegenius，ameretrickleatfirst，thenastream，thenamightyriver。
Thedarknessthatliesbehindthatwordheredity！Metaphysicalsciencehastriedtothrowalittlelightuponitandhassucceededonlyinmakinguntoitselfabarbarousjargon，leavingobscuritymoreobscurethanbefore。Asforus，whohungerafterlucidity，letusrelinquishabstrusetheoriestowhoeverdelightsinthemandconfineourambitiontoobservablefacts，withoutpretendingtoexplainthequackeryoftheplasma。Ourmethodcertainlywillnotrevealtoustheoriginofinstinct;butitwillatleastshowuswhereitwouldbewasteoftimetolookforit。
Inthissortofresearch，asubjectknownthroughandthrough，downtoitsmostintimatepeculiarities，isindispensable。Whereshallwefindthatsubject？Therewouldbeahostofthemandmagnificentones，ifitwerepossibletoreadthesealedpagesofothers’lives;butnoonecansoundanexistenceoutsidehisownandeventhenhecanthinkhimselfluckyifaretentivememoryandthehabitofreflectiongivehissoundingstheproperaccuracy。Asnoneofusisabletoprojecthimselfintoanother’sskin，wemustneeds，inconsideringthisproblem，remaininsideourown。
Totalkaboutone’sselfishateful，Iknow。Thereadermusthavethekindnesstoexcusemeforthesakeofthestudyinhand。I
shalltakethesilentbeetle’splaceinthewitnessbox，cross—
examiningmyselfinallsimplicityofsoul，asIdotheanimal，andaskingmyselfwhencethatoneofmyinstinctswhichstandsoutabovetheothersisderived。
SinceDarwinbestoweduponmethetitleof’incomparableobserver，’
theepithethasoftencomebacktome，fromthissideandfromthat，withoutmyyetunderstandingwhatparticularmeritIhaveshown。Itseemstomesonatural，somuchwithineverybody’sscope，soabsorbingtointerestone’sselfineverythingthatswarmsaroundus！However，letuspassonandadmitthatthecomplimentisnotunfounded。
Myhesitationceasesifitisaquestionofadmittingmycuriosityinmattersthatconcerntheinsect。Yes，Ipossessthegift，theinstinctthatimpelsmetofrequentthatsingularworld;yes，I
knowthatIamcapableofspendingonthosestudiesanamountofprecioustimewhichwouldbebetteremployedinmakingprovision，ifpossible，forthepovertyofoldage;yes，IconfessthatIamanenthusiasticobserveroftheanimal。Howwasthischaracteristicpropensity，atoncethetormentanddelightofmylife，developed？And，tobeginwith，howmuchdoesitowetoheredity？
Thecommonpeoplehavenohistory:persecutedbythepresent，theycannotthinkofpreservingthememoryofthepast。Andyetwhatsurpassinglyinstructiverecords，comfortingtooandpious，wouldbethefamilypapersthatshouldtelluswhoourforebearswereandspeaktousoftheirpatientstruggleswithharshfate，theirstubborneffortstobuildup，atombyatom，whatwearetoday。Nostorywouldcomeupwiththatforindividualinterest。Butbytheveryforceofthingsthehomeisabandoned;and，whenthebroodhasflown，thenestisnolongerrecognized。
I，ahumblejourneymaninthetoilers’hive，amthereforeverypoorinfamilyrecollections。Intheseconddegreeofancestry，myfactsbecomesuddenlyobscured。Iwilllingeroverthemamomentfortworeasons:first，toinquireintotheinfluenceofheredity;
and，secondly，toleavemychildrenyetonemorepageconcerningthem。
Ididnotknowmymaternalgrandfather。Thisvenerableancestorwas，Ihavebeentold，aprocessserverinoneofthepoorestparishesoftheRouergue。Heusedtoengrossonstampedpaperinaprimitivespelling。Withhiswell—filledpencaseandinkhorn，hewentdrawingoutdeedsuphillanddowndale，fromoneinsolventwretchtoanothermoreinsolventstill。Amidhisatmosphereofpettifoggery，thisrudimentaryscholar，wagingbattleonlife’sacerbities，certainlypaidnoattentiontotheinsect;atmost，ifhemetit，hewouldcrushitunderfoot。Theunknownanimal，suspectedofevildoing，deservednofurtherenquiry。Grandmother，onherside，apartfromherhousekeepingandherbeads，knewstilllessaboutanything。Shelookedonthealphabetasasetofhieroglyphicsonlyfittospoilyoursightfornothing，unlessyouwerescribblingonpaperbearingthegovernmentstamp。Whointheworld，inherday，amongthesmallfolk，dreamtofknowinghowtoreadandwrite？Thatluxurywasreservedfortheattorney，whohimselfmadebutasparinguseofit。Theinsect，Ineedhardlysay，wastheleastofhercares。Ifsometimes，whenrinsinghersaladatthetap，shefoundacaterpillaronthelettuceleaves，withastartoffrightshewouldflingtheloathsomethingaway，thuscuttingshortrelationsreputeddangerous。Inshort，tobothmymaternalgrandparents，theinsectwasacreatureofnointerestwhateverandalmostalwaysarepulsiveobject，whichonedarednottouchwiththetipofone’sfinger。Beyondadoubt，mytasteforanimalswasnotderivedfromthem。
Ihavemorepreciseinformationregardingmygrandparentsonthefather’sside，fortheirgreenoldageallowedmetoknowthemboth。Theywerepeopleofthesoil，whosequarrelwiththealphabetwassogreatthattheyhadneveropenedabookintheirlives;andtheykeptaleanfarmonthecoldgraniteridgeoftheRouerguetableland。Thehouse，standingaloneamongtheheathandbroom，withnoneighborformanyamilearoundandvisitedatintervalsbythewolves，wastothemthehuboftheuniverse。Butforafewsurroundingvillages，whitherthecalvesweredrivenonfairdays，therestwasonlyveryvaguelyknownbyhearsay。Inthiswildsolitude，themossyfens，withtheirquagmiresoozingwithiridescentpools，suppliedthecows，theprincipalsourceofwealth，withrich，wetgrass。Insummer，ontheshortswardsoftheslopes，thesheepwerepenneddayandnight，protectedfrombeastsofpreybyafenceofhurdlesproppedupwithpitchforks。
Whenthegrasswascroppedcloseatonespot，thefoldwasshiftedelsewhere。Inthecenterwastheshepherd’srollinghut，astrawcabin。Twowatchdogs，equippedwithspikedcollars，wereanswerablefortranquillityifthethievingwolfappearedinthenightfromouttheneighboringwoods。
Paddedwithaperpetuallayerofcowdung，inwhichIsanktomyknees，brokenupwithshimmeringpuddlesofdarkbrownliquidmanure，thefarmyardalsoboastedanumerouspopulation。Herethelambsskipped，thegeesetrumpeted，thefowlsscratchedthegroundandthesowgruntedwithherswarmoflittlepigshangingtoherdugs。
Theharshnessoftheclimatedidnotgivehusbandrythesamechances。Inapropitiousseason，theywouldsetfiretoastretchofmoorlandbristlingwithgorseandsendtheswingplowacrossthegroundenrichedwiththecindersoftheblaze。Thisyieldedafewacresofrye，oatsandpotatoes。Thebestcornerswerekeptforhemp，whichfurnishedthedistaffsandspindlesofthehousewiththematerialforlinenandwaslookeduponasgrandmother’sprivatecrop。
Grandfather，therefore，was，beforeall，aherdsmanversedinmattersofcowsandsheep，butcompletelyignorantofaughtelse。
Howdumbfoundedhewouldhavebeentolearnthat，intheremotefuture，oneofhisfamilywouldbecomeenamouredofthoseinsignificantanimalstowhichhehadnevervouchsafedaglanceinhislife！Hadheguessedthatthatlunaticwasmyself，thescapegraceseatedatthetablebyhisside，whatasmackIshouldhavecaughtintheneck，whatawrathfullook！
"Theideaofwastingone’stimewiththatnonsense！"hewouldhavethundered。