The Life of Jean Henri Fabre 



murdered snail. What of the Cetonia, escaped, 

 one would think, from a jeweller's show-case? 

 Nothing but drowsing in the heart of a rose. These 

 splendid creatures do nothing; they have no art or 

 craft. 



But, on the other hand, if we are seeking original 

 inventions, artistic masterpieces and ingenious con- 

 trivance, let us apply to the humblest, more often 

 than not unknown to all. And let us not be re- 

 pulsed by appearances. Ordure reserves for us 

 beautiful and curious things of which we should 

 not find the like upon the rose. So far the Mino- 

 taur has enlightened us by her family habits. Long 

 live modesty arid littleness ! J 



The small and modest, provided they are 

 valiant and ingenious, and more generally all 

 those that commend themselves by unusual 

 habits or singular technical aptitudes: such 

 are the insects investigated by the author 

 of the Souvenirs. These he follows up for 

 years, sometimes in their natural environ- 

 ment, sometimes in his laboratory. He in- 

 quires into their manner of assuring them- 

 selves and their race of a livelihood, their 

 fashion of behaviour toward their congeners 

 and their offspring; their industry and their 

 habits are his two chief preoccupations, those 

 which are brought into prominence by the 



1 Souvenirs, X, pp. 78-79. 



330 



