Fabre's Writings 



devoid of either judgment or reason, must 

 be explained by referring them to a propor- 

 tionate cause, whence proceed the logic and 

 the science which evidently do not proceed 

 from the insect itself. 



I consign to the meditations of philosophy these 

 five makers of spherical conserves [he is speaking 

 of the Scarabaei] and their numerous rivals. I 

 consign to them these inventors of the spherical box, 

 of greater volume and smaller surface, for provi- 

 sions liable to dry up, and I ask them how such 

 logical inspirations, such rational provisions, could 

 unfold themselves in the murky intellect of the in- 

 sect. . . . The work of the pill-makers propounds 

 a grave problem to him who is capable of reflection. 

 It confronts us with this alternative : either we must 

 attribute to the flat cranium of the Dung-beetle 

 the notable honour of having solved for itself the 

 geometrical problem of its conserve, or we must 

 refer it to a harmony ruling all things beneath the 

 eye of an Intelligence that, knowing all, has fore- 

 seen all. ... If the Rhynchites and its emulators 

 in defensive means against the perils of asphyxia 

 have taught themselves their trade ; if they are really 

 the children of their works, do not let us hesitate 

 . . . let us recognise them as engineers capable of 

 winning our diplomas and degrees; let us proclaim 

 the microcephalic Weevil a powerful thinker, a 

 wonderful inventor. You dare not go to these 

 lengths; you prefer to have recourse to the chances 

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