The Nuptial Flight 



stands for a thousand others, as also for 

 our entire attitude in face of divers orders 

 of truths — that here we should ignore 

 the physiological explanation, and retain 

 and taste only the emotions of this nuptial 

 flight, which is yet, and whatever the cause, 

 one of the most lyrical, most beautiful acts 

 of that suddenly disinterested, irresistible 

 force which all living creatures obey and 

 are wont to call love? That were too 

 childish ; nor is it possible, thanks to the 

 excellent habits every loyal mind has to- 

 day acquired. 



The fact being incontestable, we must 

 evidently admit that the exsertion of the 

 organ is rendered possible only by the 

 expansion of the tracheal vesicles. But 

 if we, content with this fact, did not let 

 our eyes roam beyond it ; if we deduced 

 therefrom that every thought that rises 

 too high or wanders too far must be of 

 necessity wrong, and that truth must be 



325 



