i h^ Life of the Caterpillar 



the dragon arum elaborates an intensely 

 strong essence with which the air is impreg- 

 nated and infected all around. Thus the Der- 

 mestes and Saprini, those passionate lovers of 

 carrion smells, are informed by molecular dif- 

 fusion. In the same way, the putrid Toad 

 gives out and disseminates the stinking atoms 

 that are the Necrophorus' delight. 



But what is materially emitted by the fe- 

 male Bombyx or Great Peacock? Nothing, 

 according to our sense of smell. And this 

 nothing is supposed, when the males congre- 

 gate, to saturate an immense circle, several 

 miles in radius, with its molecules! What 

 the horrible stench of the dragon arum is un- 

 able to do the absence of odour is believed to 

 accomplish ! However divisible matter may 

 be, the mind refuses to accept such conclu- 

 sions. It would be tantamount to reddening 

 a lake with an atom of carmine, to filling im- 

 mensity with nothing. 



Another argument. When my study is 

 saturated beforehand with pungent odours 

 which ought to overcome and destroy the 

 most delicate effluvia, the male Moths arrive 

 without the least sign of embarrassment. 



A loud noise kills the faint note and pre- 

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