The Buprestis-hMuting Cerceris 3 



absent. Leon Dufour's essay provided that 

 spark. 



New lights burst forth : I received a sort of 

 mental revelation. So there was more in 

 science than the arranging of pretty Beetles 

 in a cork box and giving them names and 

 classifying them ; there was something much 

 finer : a close and loving study of insect life, 

 the examination of the structure and especially 

 the faculties of each species. I read of a 

 magnificent instance of this, glowing with ex- 

 citement as I did so. Some time after, aided 

 by those lucky circumstances which he who 

 seeks them eagerly is always able to find, I 

 myself published an entomological article, a 

 supplement to Leon Dufour's. This first work 

 of mine won honourable mention from the 

 Institute of France and was awarded a prize 

 for experimental physiology. But soon I re- 

 ceived a far more welcome recompense, in the 

 shape of a most eulogistic and encouraging 

 letter from the very man who had inspired me. 

 From his home in the Landes the revered 

 master sent me a warm expression of his 

 enthusiasm and urged me to go on with my 

 studies. Even now, at that sacred recollection, 

 my old eyes fill with happy tears. O fair days 

 of illusion, of faith in the future, where are you 

 now ? 



