864 
ANALYSIS OF SUBJECTS. 
BOOK THE FIRST. —METAMORPHOSIS. 
CHAPTER I.-TERROR AND REPUGNANCE OF CHILDHOOD. 
Extract from a Journal written by Madame Michelet,.57 
In which she describes a visit to the home of her childhood, ... ... . ... 58 
Painful impressions XDroduced by the ravages of the insect, ... ... . ... 59 
The Avriter comments on the repugnance with which the insect is viewed by childhood, 60 
This repugnance is not shared by Nature, ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 61 
Which protects and facilitates it in its work, ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 62 
On account of its vast importance, . ... ... ... . . 63 
CHAPTER II.—COMPASSION. 
The artist Gros reproached a young man for cruelty towards a butterfly, 
Lyonnet, the naturalist, equally insisted on tenderness towards even the lowest forms of 
life, ... . . . . 
The writer records his adventure Avith a drone, which he though he had killed, in a moment 
of petulance, 
His happiness on seeing the insect revive, ... 
Begins to study the insect seriously on a Swiss tour, . 
Another extract from Madame Michelet’s Journal, . 
In Avhich is described the author’s retreat at Montreux, on the shore of the Lake of 
Geneva, . . ... . . 
In one of her walks she observes a combat betAveen a stag-beetle and a beetle of inferior 
size, 
The stag-beetle is captured for the purpose of examination, 
Effect produced upon it by the vapour of ether, ... ... ... . 
Regret expressed at having terminated its existence, . 
67 
68 
69 
70 
70 
71 
72 
73 
73 
74 
75 
CHAPTER III.-WORLD-BUILDERS. 
The world outside the terrestrial world, 
The Avorld of the infinitely little ; the architects of ocean, 
The immense Avorks accomplished by the lower organisms, 
They build up reefs, banks, islands, ... 
The manufacture of chalk described, 
How a coral-island is gradually developed, ... 
Examples of the labours of the coral animals, 
80 
81 
82 
... 83 
83, 84 
... 85 
CHAPTER IV.—LOVE AND DEATH. 
Above these organisms in the scale of creation comes the insect, . ... ... 89 
Its individuality is explained ; its mode of reproduction, ... ... ... ... ... 90 
The insect-mother dies in producing her offspring, ... . ... ... ... 91 
But with extraordinary sagacity has provided for its support and protection, . 92 
Examples given of this Avonderful maternal prevision, . ... ... ... ... 93 
The labours of the mother-bee explained, . . ... ... . 94 
Reference to the “ Nymphs of Fontainebleau,” . ... ... ... ... ... 95 
CHAPTER V.—THE ORPHAN : ITS FEEBLENESS. 
The insect enters upon life naked and necessitous, ... . 
But all its wants have been carefully anticipated, . 
Night, however, is the great protection of the embryo, ... . 
How it endeavours to guard against cold,. .. . 
In its necessities originate its various industries,. 
After a time comes its season of trial, . ... ... . 
Of Avhich it exhibits a marvellous presentiment, and for which it assiduously prepares, 
... 99 
... 100 
... 101 
... 102 
... 103 
... 104 
... 105 
CHAPTER VI.-THE MUMMY, NYMPH, OR CHRYSALIS 
The meaning of the insect to the ancient Egyptians, . .109 
The beetle Avas regarded as a symbol of Eternity, ... ... .. ... ... ... 110 
Has modern science SAvept aside the ancient poetry ? ... ... ... . ... 110 
That it is not so, is shoAvn by Reaumur’s discoveries, . Ill 
Which shoAV us the marvellous changes the insect undergoes,.112 
