THE ANIMAL KINGDOM. 219 



with long weapons, which at a distance might be taken for 

 lances. 



Elsewhere, again, we find a lengthy train of pioneers 

 regularly posted, and vanishing in the distance, all ani- 

 mated Avith feverish activity, are hollowing out the soil, 

 and making, for many leagues, long trenches of circumval- 

 lation, Avhich follow the roads and serve to isolate the 

 different districts of the forest from one another. 



Or if the excursion be made by night, another sjjectacle 

 aAvaits us. The Avhole forest seems on fire. In every part 

 are burning great trees, erect and isolated, like huge 

 threatening torches, the flame of Avhich rises to the clouds 

 and casts a baleful glare on all around. A few foresters, 

 standing in silence, contemplate the progress of the con- 

 flagration, and watch its ravages. Lastly, at other times, 

 as a final resource, the entire forest is given up a prey to 

 the flames, and whirlwinds of fire, menacing and dreadful, 

 spread on every side ; a woody region, formerly so fertile, 

 is entirely devoured by fire and only an immense moun- 

 tain of charcoal remains of all this mass of wealth. 



We ask against what formidable enemy such an army 

 of men has been launched ! Who are they going to attack 

 Avith their rods which they brandish on all sides? What 

 redoubtable aggressors are the others attempting to stay 

 the march of, Avith the long trenches they are scooping out? 

 Why these frightful fires in the middle of the night? 

 Why this general conflagration ? 



This formidable enemy is at times only a single insect, 

 but it menaces everything with its destructive tooth, and 

 men j)refer decimating the forest to losing it entirely. 



One is really stupified at seeing so many and such 

 energetic efl^orts directed solely against the progeny of a 

 simple butterfly, but its caterpillars sometimes multiply 



