persists¡¡in¡¡a¡¡state¡¡of¡¡suspense¡¡only¡¡in¡¡these¡¡little¡¡frozen¡¡creatures£»
whose¡¡organization¡¡is¡¡already¡¡so¡¡complicated¡£
Then£»¡¡of¡¡a¡¡sudden£»¡¡the¡¡ravagers¡¡disappear£»¡¡more¡¡often¡¡than¡¡not¡¡none¡¡knows
how¡¡or¡¡why£»¡¡deliverance¡¡is¡¡at¡¡hand¡£¡¡What¡¡indeed¡¡would¡¡become¡¡of¡¡the¡¡world
were¡¡nothing¡¡to¡¡moderate¡¡such¡¡fecundity£¿
Again£»¡¡each¡¡species¡¡has¡¡its¡¡trials¡¡which¡¡appear¡¡in¡¡time¡¡to¡¡moderate¡¡its
surplusage£»¡¡and¡¡Fabre¡¡expounds¡¡for¡¡us£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡stern¡¡philosophy£»¡¡the
terrible¡¡devices¡¡by¡¡which¡¡this¡¡repression¡¡is¡¡effected¡£
Each¡¡has¡¡its¡¡appointed¡¡enemy£»¡¡which¡¡lives¡¡upon¡¡it¡¡or¡¡its¡¡offspring£»¡¡and
which¡¡in¡¡turn¡¡becomes¡¡the¡¡prey¡¡of¡¡some¡¡smaller¡¡creature¡£¡¡The¡¡gentle¡¡itself£»
¡¨the¡¡king¡¡of¡¡the¡¡dead£»¡¨¡¡has¡¡its¡¡parasites¡£¡¡While¡¡it¡¡swims¡¡in¡¡the
deliquescence¡¡of¡¡putrefying¡¡flesh¡¡a¡¡minute¡¡Chalcidian¡¡perforates¡¡its¡¡skin
with¡¡an¡¡imperceptible¡¡wound£»¡¡and¡¡introduces¡¡its¡¡terrible¡¡eggs£»¡¡whence¡¡in
the¡¡future¡¡will¡¡issue¡¡larvae¡¡which¡¡to¡morrow¡¡will¡¡devour¡¡the¡¡devourers¡¡of
to¡day¡£
None¡¡exists¡¡save¡¡to¡¡the¡¡detriment¡¡of¡¡others¡£¡¡Everywhere£»¡¡even¡¡in¡¡the
smallest£»¡¡we¡¡find¡¡¡¨an¡¡atrocious¡¡activity£»¡¡a¡¡cunning¡¡brigandage£»¡¨¡¡a¡¡savage
extermination£»¡¡which¡¡dominates¡¡a¡¡vast¡¡unconscious¡¡world¡¡of¡¡which¡¡the¡¡final
result¡¡is¡¡the¡¡restoration¡¡of¡¡equilibrium¡£¡¡£¨10/7¡££©¡¡It¡¡is¡¡only¡¡on¡¡these
antagonisms£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡enemies¡¡of¡¡our¡¡enemies£»¡¡that¡¡we¡¡can¡¡found¡¡any¡¡hope¡¡of
seeing¡¡this¡¡or¡¡that¡¡pest¡¡disappear¡£¡¡A¡¡small¡¡Hymenopteron£»¡¡almost¡¡invisible£»
the¡¡Microgaster¡¡glomeratus£»¡¡is¡¡entrusted¡¡with¡¡the¡¡destruction¡¡of¡¡the
cabbage¡¡caterpillar£»¡¡the¡¡cochineal¡¡wages¡¡war¡¡to¡¡the¡¡death¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡green¡
fly£»¡¡the¡¡Ammophila¡¡is¡¡the¡¡predestined¡¡murderer¡¡of¡¡the¡¡harvest¡¡Noctuela£»
whose¡¡misdeeds¡¡in¡¡a¡¡beetroot¡¡country¡¡often¡¡amount¡¡to¡¡a¡¡disaster¡£¡¡The
Odynerus¡¡has¡¡for¡¡its¡¡instinctive¡¡mission¡¡to¡¡arrest¡¡the¡¡excessive
multiplication¡¡of¡¡a¡¡lucerne¡¡weevil£»¡¡no¡¡less¡¡than¡¡twenty¡four¡¡of¡¡whose¡¡grubs
are¡¡necessary¡¡to¡¡rear¡¡the¡¡offspring¡¡of¡¡the¡¡brigand£»¡¡and¡¡nearly¡¡sixty
gadflies¡¡are¡¡sacrificed¡¡to¡¡the¡¡growth¡¡of¡¡a¡¡single¡¡Bembex¡£
Everywhere¡¡craft¡¡is¡¡organized¡¡to¡¡triumph¡¡over¡¡force¡£¡¡Around¡¡each¡¡nest¡¡the
parasites¡¡lie¡¡in¡¡wait£»¡¡¡¨atrocious¡¡assassins¡¡of¡¡the¡¡child¡¡in¡¡the¡¡cradle£»
watching¡¡at¡¡the¡¡doors¡¡for¡¡the¡¡favourable¡¡occasion¡¡to¡¡establish¡¡their¡¡family
at¡¡the¡¡expense¡¡of¡¡others¡£¡¡The¡¡enemy¡¡penetrates¡¡the¡¡most¡¡inaccessible
fortress£»¡¡each¡¡has¡¡its¡¡tactics¡¡of¡¡war£»¡¡devised¡¡with¡¡a¡¡terrible¡¡art¡£¡¡Of¡¡the
nest¡¡and¡¡the¡¡cocoon¡¡of¡¡the¡¡victim¡¡the¡¡intruder¡¡makes¡¡its¡¡own¡¡nest£»¡¡its¡¡own
cocoon£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡the¡¡following¡¡year£»¡¡instead¡¡of¡¡the¡¡master¡¡of¡¡the¡¡house£»¡¡he
will¡¡emerge¡¡from¡¡underground¡¡as¡¡the¡¡usurping¡¡bandit£»¡¡the¡¡devourer¡¡of¡¡the
inhabitant¡£¡¨
While¡¡the¡¡cicada¡¡is¡¡absorbed¡¡in¡¡laying¡¡her¡¡eggs¡¡an¡¡insignificant¡¡fly
labours¡¡to¡¡destroy¡¡them¡£¡¡How¡¡express¡¡the¡¡calm¡¡audacity¡¡of¡¡this¡¡pigmy£»
following¡¡closely¡¡after¡¡the¡¡colossus£»¡¡step¡¡by¡¡step£»¡¡several¡¡at¡¡once¡¡almost
under¡¡the¡¡talons¡¡of¡¡the¡¡giant£»¡¡which¡¡could¡¡crush¡¡them¡¡merely¡¡by¡¡treading¡¡on
them£¿¡¡But¡¡the¡¡cicada¡¡respects¡¡them£»¡¡or¡¡they¡¡would¡¡long¡¡ago¡¡have
disappeared¡£¡¨¡¡£¨10/8¡££©
Fabre¡¡thus¡¡agrees¡¡with¡¡Pasteur£»¡¡who¡¡in¡¡the¡¡world¡¡of¡¡the¡¡infinitely¡¡little
shows¡¡us¡¡the¡¡same¡¡antagonisms£»¡¡the¡¡same¡¡vital¡¡competition£»¡¡the¡¡same¡¡eternal
movement¡¡of¡¡flux¡¡and¡¡reflux£»¡¡the¡¡same¡¡whirlpool¡¡of¡¡life£»¡¡which¡¡is
extinguished¡¡only¡¡to¡¡reappear£º¡¡tending¡¡always¡¡towards¡¡an¡¡equilibrium¡¡which
is¡¡incessantly¡¡destroyed¡£¡¡And¡¡it¡¡is¡¡thanks¡¡to¡¡this¡¡balancing¡¡that¡¡the
integral¡¡of¡¡life¡¡remains¡¡everywhere¡¡and¡¡always¡¡almost¡¡identical¡¡with
itself¡£
CHAPTER¡¡11¡£¡¡HARMONIES¡¡AND¡¡DISCORDS¡£
Such¡¡indeed¡¡is¡¡the¡¡economy¡¡of¡¡nature¡¡that¡¡secret¡¡relations¡¡and¡¡astonishing
concordances¡¡exist¡¡throughout¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡vast¡¡weft¡¡of¡¡things¡£¡¡There¡¡are¡¡no
loose¡¡ends£»¡¡everything¡¡is¡¡consequent¡¡and¡¡ordered¡£¡¡Hidden¡¡harmonies¡¡meet¡¡and
mingle¡£
Among¡¡the¡¡terebinth¡¡lice£»¡¡¡¨when¡¡the¡¡population¡¡is¡¡mature£»¡¡the¡¡gall¡¡is¡¡ripe
also£»¡¡so¡¡fully¡¡do¡¡the¡¡calendars¡¡of¡¡the¡¡shrub¡¡and¡¡the¡¡animal¡¡coincide¡¨£»¡¡and
the¡¡mortal¡¡enemy¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Halictus£»¡¡the¡¡sinister¡¡midge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡springtime£»¡¡is
hatched¡¡at¡¡the¡¡very¡¡moment¡¡when¡¡the¡¡bee¡¡begins¡¡to¡¡wander¡¡in¡¡search¡¡of¡¡a
location¡¡for¡¡its¡¡burrows¡£
The¡¡fantastic¡¡history¡¡of¡¡the¡¡larvae¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Anthrax¡¡furnishes¡¡us¡¡with¡¡one¡¡of
the¡¡most¡¡suggestive¡¡examples¡¡of¡¡these¡¡strange¡¡coincidences¡£¡¡£¨10/9¡££©
The¡¡Anthrax¡¡is¡¡a¡¡black¡¡fly£»¡¡which¡¡sows¡¡its¡¡eggs¡¡on¡¡the¡¡surface¡¡of¡¡the¡¡nests
of¡¡the¡¡Mason¡bee£»¡¡whose¡¡larvae¡¡are¡¡at¡¡the¡¡moment¡¡reposing¡¡in¡¡their¡¡silken
cocoons¡£
¡¨The¡¡grub¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Anthrax¡¡emerges¡¡and¡¡comes¡¡to¡¡life¡¡under¡¡the¡¡touch¡¡of¡¡the
sunlight¡£¡¡Its¡¡cradle¡¡is¡¡the¡¡rugged¡¡surface¡¡of¡¡the¡¡cell£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡welcomed¡¡into
the¡¡world¡¡by¡¡a¡¡literally¡¡stony¡¡harshness¡£¡£¡£Obstinately¡¡it¡¡probes¡¡the¡¡chinks
and¡¡pores¡¡of¡¡the¡¡nest£»¡¡glides¡¡over¡¡it£»¡¡crawls¡¡forward£»¡¡returns£»¡¡and
recommences¡£¡¡The¡¡radicle¡¡of¡¡the¡¡germinating¡¡seed¡¡is¡¡not¡¡more¡¡persevering£»
not¡¡more¡¡determined¡¡to¡¡descend¡¡into¡¡the¡¡cool¡¡damp¡¡earth¡£¡¡What¡¡inspiration
impels¡¡it£¿¡¡What¡¡compass¡¡guides¡¡it£¿¡¡What¡¡does¡¡the¡¡root¡¡know¡¡of¡¡the¡¡fertility
of¡¡the¡¡soil£¿¡£¡£¡£The¡¡nurseling£»¡¡the¡¡seed¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Anthrax£»¡¡is¡¡barely¡¡visible£»
almost¡¡escaping¡¡the¡¡gaze¡¡of¡¡the¡¡magnifying¡¡glass£»¡¡a¡¡mere¡¡atom¡¡compared¡¡to
the¡¡monstrous¡¡foster¡mother¡¡which¡¡it¡¡will¡¡drain¡¡to¡¡the¡¡very¡¡skin¡£¡¡Its¡¡mouth
is¡¡a¡¡sucker£»¡¡with¡¡neither¡¡fangs¡¡nor¡¡jaws£»¡¡incapable¡¡of¡¡producing¡¡the
smallest¡¡wound£»¡¡it¡¡sucks¡¡in¡¡place¡¡of¡¡eating£»¡¡and¡¡its¡¡attack¡¡is¡¡a¡¡kiss¡£¡¨¡¡It
practises£»¡¡in¡¡short£»¡¡a¡¡most¡¡astonishing¡¡art£»¡¡¡¨another¡¡variation¡¡of¡¡the
marvellous¡¡art¡¡of¡¡feeding¡¡on¡¡the¡¡victim¡¡without¡¡killing¡¡it¡¡until¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of
the¡¡meal£»¡¡in¡¡order¡¡always¡¡to¡¡have¡¡a¡¡store¡¡of¡¡fresh¡¡meat¡£¡¡During¡¡the
fourteen¡¡days¡¡through¡¡which¡¡the¡¡nourishment¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Anthrax¡¡continues£»¡¡the
aspect¡¡of¡¡the¡¡larva¡¡remains¡¡that¡¡of¡¡living¡¡flesh£»¡¡until¡¡all¡¡its¡¡substance
has¡¡been¡¡literally¡¡transferred£»¡¡by¡¡a¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡transpiration£»¡¡to¡¡the¡¡body¡¡of
the¡¡nurseling£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡victim£»¡¡slowly¡¡exhausted£»¡¡drained¡¡to¡¡the¡¡last¡¡drop£»
while¡¡retaining¡¡to¡¡the¡¡end¡¡just¡¡enough¡¡life¡¡to¡¡prove¡¡refractory¡¡to
decomposition£»¡¡is¡¡reduced¡¡to¡¡the¡¡mere¡¡skin£»¡¡which£»¡¡being¡¡insufflated£»¡¡puffs
itself¡¡out¡¡and¡¡resumes¡¡the¡¡precise¡¡form¡¡of¡¡the¡¡larva£»¡¡there¡¡being¡¡nowhere¡¡a
point¡¡of¡¡escape¡¡for¡¡the¡¡compressed¡¡air¡£¡¨
Now¡¡the¡¡grub¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Anthrax¡¡¡¨appears¡¡precisely¡¡at¡¡the¡¡exact¡¡moment¡¡when¡¡the
larva¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Chalicodoma¡¡is¡¡attacked¡¡by¡¡that¡¡lethargy¡¡which¡¡precedes
metamorphosis£»¡¡and¡¡which¡¡renders¡¡it¡¡insensible£»¡¡and¡¡during¡¡which¡¡the
substance¡¡of¡¡the¡¡grub¡¡about¡¡to¡¡be¡¡transfigured¡¡into¡¡a¡¡bee¡¡commences¡¡to
break¡¡down¡¡and¡¡resolve¡¡itself¡¡into¡¡a¡¡liquid¡¡pulp£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡processes¡¡of¡¡life
always¡¡liquefy¡¡the¡¡grub¡¡before¡¡achieving¡¡the¡¡perfect¡¡insect¡£¡¨¡¡£¨11/2¡££©
Here¡¡again¡¡the¡¡time¡tables¡¡coincide¡£
But¡¡it¡¡is¡¡perhaps¡¡in¡¡the¡¡celebrated¡¡Odyssey¡¡of¡¡the¡¡grub¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Sitaris¡¡that
Fabre¡¡most¡¡urgently¡¡claims¡¡our¡¡admiration¡¡for¡¡the¡¡marvellous¡¡and
incomprehensible¡¡wisdom¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Unconscious£¡
Let¡¡us¡¡recapitulate¡¡the¡¡unheard¡of¡¡series¡¡of¡¡events£»¡¡the¡¡inextricable
complication¡¡of¡¡circumstances£»¡¡which¡¡are¡¡required¡¡to¡¡condition¡¡the¡¡lowly
life¡¡of¡¡a¡¡Sitaris¡£
In¡¡the¡¡first¡¡place£»¡¡this¡¡microscopic¡¡creature¡¡must¡¡be¡¡provided¡¡with¡¡talons£»
or¡¡how¡¡could¡¡it¡¡adhere¡¡to¡¡the¡¡fleece¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Anthophora£»¡¡on¡¡which¡¡it¡¡must
live¡¡as¡¡parasite¡¡for¡¡a¡¡certain¡¡length¡¡of¡¡time£¿
Then¡¡again£»¡¡it¡¡must¡¡transfer¡¡itself¡¡from¡¡the¡¡male¡¡to¡¡the¡¡female¡¡bee¡¡in¡¡the
course¡¡of¡¡its¡¡travels¡¡abroad£»¡¡or¡¡its¡¡destiny¡¡would¡¡be¡¡cut¡¡short¡£
Again£»¡¡it¡¡must¡¡not¡¡miss¡¡the¡¡opportunity¡¡of¡¡embarking¡¡itself¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡egg
just¡¡at¡¡the¡¡propitious¡¡moment¡£
Then¡¡the¡¡volume¡¡of¡¡this¡¡egg¡¡must¡¡be¡¡so¡¡calculated¡¡as¡¡to¡¡represent¡¡an
allowance¡¡of¡¡food¡¡exactly¡¡proportioned¡¡to¡¡the¡¡duration¡¡of¡¡the¡¡first¡¡phase
of¡¡its¡¡metamorphosis¡£¡¡Moreover£»¡¡the¡¡quantity¡¡of¡¡honey¡¡accumulated¡¡by¡¡the
bee¡¡must¡¡suffice¡¡for¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡of¡¡the¡¡remaining¡¡cycle¡¡of¡¡its¡¡larval
existence¡£
Let¡¡a¡¡single¡¡link¡¡of¡¡the¡¡chain¡¡be¡¡broken£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡entire¡¡species¡¡of¡¡the
Sitaris¡¡is¡¡no¡¡longer¡¡possible¡£
If¡¡every¡¡species¡¡has¡¡its¡¡law£»¡¡if¡¡the¡¡Geotrupes¡¡remain¡¡faithful¡¡to¡¡filth£»
although¡¡experience¡¡shows¡¡that¡¡they¡¡can¡¡accommodate¡¡themselves¡¡equally¡¡well
to¡¡the¡¡putrefaction¡¡of¡¡decayed¡¡leaves£»¡¡if¡¡the¡¡predatory¡¡speciesthe
Cerceris£»¡¡the¡¡Sphex£»¡¡the¡¡Ammophilaresort¡¡only¡¡to¡¡one¡¡species¡¡of¡¡quarry¡¡to
nourish¡¡their¡¡larvae£»¡¡although¡¡these¡¡same¡¡larvae¡¡accept¡¡all¡¡indifferently£»
it¡¡is¡¡on¡¡account¡¡of¡¡those¡¡superior¡¡economic¡¡laws¡¡and¡¡secret¡¡alliances¡¡the
profound¡¡reasons¡¡for¡¡which¡¡as¡¡a¡¡rule¡¡escape¡¡us¡¡or¡¡are¡¡beyond¡¡the¡¡scope¡¡of
our¡¡theories¡£
For¡¡all¡¡things¡¡are¡¡produced¡¡and¡¡interlocked¡¡by¡¡the¡¡eternal¡¡necessity£»¡¡link
engages¡¡in¡¡link£»¡¡and¡¡life¡¡is¡¡only¡¡a¡¡plexus¡¡of¡¡solitary¡¡forces¡¡allied¡¡among
themselves¡¡by¡¡their¡¡very¡¡nature£»¡¡the¡¡condition¡¡of¡¡which¡¡is¡¡harmony¡£¡¡And¡¡the
whole¡¡system¡¡of¡¡living¡¡creatures¡¡appears¡¡to¡¡us£»¡¡through¡¡the¡¡work¡¡of¡¡the
great¡¡naturalist£»¡¡as¡¡an¡¡immense¡¡organism£»¡¡a¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡vast¡¡physiological
apparatus£»¡¡of¡¡which¡¡all¡¡the¡¡parts¡¡are¡¡mutually¡¡interdependent£»¡¡and¡¡as
narrowly¡¡controlled¡¡as¡¡all¡¡the¡¡cells¡¡of¡¡the¡¡human¡¡body¡£
Fabre¡¡goes¡¡on¡¡to¡¡present¡¡us¡¡with¡¡other¡¡facts£»¡¡which¡¡at¡¡a¡¡first¡¡glance
appear¡¡highly¡¡immoral£»¡¡I¡¡am¡¡referring¡¡to¡¡certain¡¡phases¡¡of¡¡sexual¡¡love
among¡¡the¡¡lower¡¡animals£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡ghoulish¡¡revelations¡¡concerning¡¡the
horrible¡¡bridals¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Arachnoids£»¡¡the¡¡Millepoda£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Locustidae¡£
The¡¡Decticus¡¡surrenders¡¡only¡¡to¡¡a¡¡single¡¡exploit¡¡of¡¡love£»¡¡a¡¡victim¡¡of¡¡its
¡¨strange¡¡genesics¡¨£»¡¡utterly¡¡exhausted¡¡by¡¡the¡¡first¡¡embrace£»¡¡empty£»¡¡drained£»
extenuated£»¡¡motionless¡¡in¡¡all¡¡its¡¡members£»¡¡utterly¡¡worn¡¡out£»¡¡it¡¡quickly
succumbs£»¡¡a¡¡mere¡¡broken¡¡simulacrum£»¡¡like¡¡the¡¡miserable¡¡lover¡¡of¡¡a¡¡monstrous
succubus¡¡who¡¡¡¨loves¡¡him¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡devour¡¡him¡£¡¨¡¡£¨11/3¡££©
The¡¡female¡¡scorpion¡¡devours¡¡the¡¡male£»¡¡¡¨all¡¡is¡¡gone¡¡but¡¡the¡¡tail£¡¡¨
The¡¡female¡¡Spider¡¡delights¡¡in¡¡the¡¡flesh¡¡of¡¡her¡¡lover¡£
The¡¡cricket¡¡also¡¡devours¡¡a¡¡small¡¡portion¡¡of¡¡her¡¡¡¨debonair¡¨¡¡admirer¡£
The¡¡Ephippigera¡¡¡¨excavates¡¡the¡¡stomach¡¡of¡¡her¡¡companion¡¡and¡¡eats¡¡him¡£¡¨
But¡¡the¡¡horror¡¡of¡¡these¡¡nuptial¡¡tragedies¡¡is¡¡surpassed¡¡by¡¡the¡¡insatiable
lust£»¡¡the¡¡monstrous¡¡conjunction£»¡¡the¡¡bestial¡¡delights¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Mantis£»¡¡that
¡¨ferocious¡¡spectre£»¡¡never¡¡wearied¡¡of¡¡embraces£»¡¡munching¡¡the¡¡brains¡¡of¡¡its
spouse¡¡at¡¡the¡¡very¡¡moment¡¡of¡¡surrendering¡¡her¡¡flanks¡¡to¡¡him¡£¡¨¡¡£¨11/4¡££©
W
СÌáʾ£º°´ »Ø³µ [Enter] ¼ü ·µ»ØÊéÄ¿£¬°´ ¡û ¼ü ·µ»ØÉÏÒ»Ò³£¬ °´ ¡ú ¼ü ½øÈëÏÂÒ»Ò³¡£
ÔÞÒ»ÏÂ
Ìí¼ÓÊéÇ©¼ÓÈëÊé¼Ü