BURYING-BEETLES: THE BURIAL 63 



To grant, in the intellect of the insect, a lucid under- 

 standing of the relations between cause and effect, be- 

 tween the end and the means, is an affirmation of serious 

 import. I know of scarcely any better adapted to the 

 philosophical brutalities of my time. But are these two 

 little stories really true? Do they involve the conse- 

 quences deduced from them? Are not those who accept 

 them as reliable testimony a little over-simple ? 



To be sure, simplicity is needed in entomology. With- 

 out a good dose of this quality, a mental defect in the 

 eyes of practical folk, who would busy himself with the 

 lesser 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 hazard, without 

 criticism, cannot establish a law. 



I do not propose, O valiant grave-diggers, to belittle 

 your merits; such is far from being my intention. I 

 have that in my notes, on the other hand, which will do 

 you more honor than the case of the gibbet and the Frog; 

 I have gleaned, for your benefit, examples of prowess 

 which will shed a new luster upon your reputation. 



No, my intention is not to lessen your renown. How- 

 ever, it is not the business of impartial history to main- 

 tain a given thesis; it follows whither the facts lead it. 

 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 humble germ of 

 human thought? That is the problem before us. 



To solve it we will not rely upon the accidents which 



