The Life of Jean Henri Fabre 



refuse to realise this ! Fabre was not of their 

 number; and more than once it was greatly 

 to his advantage that he was not. 



In the choice of his collaborators, then, 

 Fabre addressed himself by preference to 

 children, for he loved their perspicacity, and 

 above all " the naive curiosity so Hke his 

 own." 



But he would also solicit the help of the 

 adult members of his entourage, if by their 

 situation, their character, their good nature, 

 or their mental temper he judged them ca- 

 pable of understanding him or, at all events, 

 of giving him information and assisting him 

 in his labours. 



The gardener, the butcher, the farmers, 

 the house-wives, the schoolmasters, the car- 

 penter, the truffle-hunter, and 1 know not 

 whom besides, were all in turn called upon 

 to lend a hand, which they .did with the best 

 grace in the world, each according to his 

 means and his speciality. 



It is amusing to see the worthy villagers 

 of Serlgnan wondering at the naturalist's 

 questions, and ostensibly flattering them- 

 selves that they know more than he does 

 of worm-eaten vegetables. On the other 

 hand, they often consult him, thereby mak- 

 ing amends and affording a practical recog- 

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