THE LIFE AND LOVE OF 

 THE INSECT 



CHAPTER I 



THE SACRED BEETLE 



The building of the nest, the safeguard of the family, 

 furnishes the loftiest expression of the instinctive faculties. 

 That ingenious architect, the bird, teaches us as much ; 

 and the insect, with its still more varied talents, repeats 

 the lesson, telling us that maternity is the supreme in- 

 spirer of the instinct. Placed in charge of the duration 

 of the species, which is of more serious interest than the 

 preservation of individuals, maternity awakens a mar- 

 vellous foresight in the drowsiest intelligence ; it is the 

 thrice sacred hearth wherein smoulder and then sud- 

 denly burst forth those incomprehensible psychic gleams 

 which give us the impression of an infallible reasoning 

 power. The more maternity asserts itself, the higher 

 does instinct ascend. 



The most worthy of our attention in this respect are 

 the Hymenoptera, upon whom the cares of maternity 

 devolve in their fulness. All these favourites of instinct 

 prepare board and lodging for their offspring. They 

 become past masters in a host of industries for the sake 

 of a family which their faceted eyes never behold and 



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