The Glow- Worm and Other Beetles 



creatures? Yes, let us be simple, without 

 being childishly credulous. Before making 

 insects reason, let us reason a little ourselves; 

 let us, above all, consult the experimental 

 test. A fact gathered at random, without 

 criticism, cannot establish a law. 



I do not propose, O valiant grave-diggers, 

 to depreciate your merits; such is far from 

 being my intention. I have that in my notes, 

 on the other hand, which will do you more 

 honour than the story of the gibbet and the 

 Frog; I have gleaned, for your benefit, ex- 

 amples of prowess which will shed a new 

 lustre upon your reputation. 



No, my intention is not to belittle your re- 

 nown. Besides, it is not the business of 

 impartial history to maintain a given thesis; 

 it follows facts. I wish simply to question 

 you upon the power of logic attributed to 

 you. Do you or do you not enjoy gleams 

 of reason? Have you within you the hum- 

 ble germ of human thought? That is the 

 problem before us. 



To solve it we will not rely upon the acci- 

 dents which good fortune may now and again 

 procure for us. We must employ the breed- 

 ing-cage, which will permit of assiduous 

 visits, continuous enquiry and a variety of 

 artifices. But how to stock the cage? The 

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