Athalfpasttennomorearrive。Thesittingisover。Inall，twenty-fivemaleshavebeencaught，ofwhomonlyonewaswithoutantennæ；。Therefore，ofthesixonwhomIoperatedyesterdayandwhowerehaleenoughtoleavemystudyandgobacktothefields，onealonehasreturnedtothebell-jar。
Itisapoorresult，onwhichIdarenotrelywhenitcomestoassertingordenyingthattheantennæ；playaguidingpart。Wemustbeginalloveragain，onalargerscale。
NextmorningIpayavisittotheprisonersofthedaybefore。WhatIseeisnotencouraging。Manyarespreadoutonthefloor，almostlifeless。
SeveralofthemgivehardlyasignoflifewhenItaketheminmyfingers。
WhatcanIhopefromthesecripples？Still，letustry。Perhapstheywillrecovertheirvigourwhenthetimecomestodancethelovers’round。
Thetwenty-fournewonesundergoamputationoftheantennæ；。Theold，hornlessoneisleftoutofcount，asdyingorclosetoit。Lastly，theprison-doorisleftopenfortheremainderoftheday。Hewhowillmayleavetheroom，hewhocanshalljoinintheeveningfestival。Inordertoputsuchasgoouttothetestofsearchingforthebride，thecage，whichtheywouldbesuretonoticeonthethreshold，isoncemoreremoved。
Ishiftittoaroomintheoppositewing，ontheground-floor。Theaccesstothisroomisofcourseleftfree。
Ofthetwenty-fourdeprivedoftheirantennæ；，onlysixteengooutside。Eightremain，powerlesstomove。Theywillsoondiewheretheyare。Outofthesixteenwhohaveleft，howmanyaretherethatreturntothecageintheevening？Notone！Isituptocapturejustseven，allnewcomers，allsportingfeathers。Thisresultwouldseemtoshowthattheamputationoftheantennæ；isaratherseriousmatter。Letusnotdrawconclusionsyet:adoubtremainsandanimportantone。
"AnicestateI’min！"saidMouflard，theBull-pup，whenhispitilessbreederhaddockedhisears。"HowdareIshowmyfacebeforetheotherDogs？"
CanitbethatmyMothsentertainMasterMouflard’sapprehensions？Oncedeprivedoftheirfineplumes，daretheynolongerappearamidsttheirrivalsanda-wooinggo？Isitbashfulnessontheirpartorlackofguidance？
Ormightitnotratherbeexhaustionafterawaitthatexceedsthedurationofanephemeralflame？Experimentshalltellus。
Onthefourthevening，ItakefourteenMoths，allnewones，andimprisonthem，astheyarrive，inaroomwhereIintendthemtopassthenight。
Nextmorning，takingadvantageoftheirdaytimeimmobility，Iremovealittleofthefurfromthecentreoftheircorselet。Thesilkyfleececomesoffsoeasilythatthisslighttonsuredoesnotinconveniencetheinsectsatall；itdeprivesthemofnoorganwhichmaybenecessarytothemlater，whenthetimecomestofindthecage。Itmeansnothingtotheshornones；
tomeitmeanstheunmistakablesignthatthecallershaverepeatedtheirvisit。
Thistimetherearenoweaklingsincapableofflight。AtnightthefourteenshavenMothsescapeintotheopen。Ofcoursetheplaceofthecageisoncemorechanged。Intwohours，IcapturetwentyMoths，includingtwotonsuredones，nomore。Ofthosewholosttheirantennaetwodaysago，notoneputsinanappearance。Theirnuptialtimeisoverforgoodandall。
Onlytworeturnoutofthefourteenmarkedwithabaldpatch。Whydothetwelveothershangback，althoughsuppliedwithwhatwehaveassumedtobetheirguides，theirantennaryplumes？Whyagainthatformidablelistofdefaulters，whichwefindnearlyalwaysafteranightofsequestration？
IperceivebutonereplytheGreatPeacockisquicklywornoutbytheardoursofpairing-time。
Withaviewtohiswedding，theoneandonlyobjectofhislife，theMothisgiftedwithawonderfulprerogative。Heisabletodiscovertheobjectofhisdesireinspiteofdistance，obstaclesanddarkness。Fortwoorthreeevenings，heisallowedafewhourswhereintoindulgehissearchandhisamorousexploits。Ifhecannotavailhimselfofthem，allisover:themostexactofcompassesfails，thebrightestoflampsexpires。Whatistheuseoflivingafterthat？Stoicallywewithdrawintoacornerandsleepourlastsleep，whichistheendofourillusionsandofourwoesalike。
TheGreatPeacockbecomesaMothonlyinordertoperpetuatehisspecies。
Heknowsnothingofeating。Whilesomanyothers，jollycompanionsoneandall，flitfromflowertoflower，unrollingthespiraloftheirproboscisanddippingitintothehoneyedcups，he，theincomparablefaster，whollyfreedfromthebondageofthebelly，hasnothoughtofrefreshment。Hismouth-partsaremererudiments，vainsimulacra，notrealorganscapableofperformingtheirfunctions。Notasupentershisstomach:agloriousprivilege，savethatitinvolvesabriefexistence。Thelampneedsitsdropofoil，ifitisnottobeextinguished。TheGreatPeacockrenouncesthatdrop，butatthesametimeherenounceslonglife。Twoorthreeevenings，justtimeenoughtoallowthecoupletomeet，andthatisall:thebigMothhaslived。
Thenwhatisthemeaningofthestayingawayofthosewhohavelosttheirantennæ；？
Doesitshowthattheabsenceoftheseorganshasmadethemincapableoffindingthewirebellinwhichtheprisonerawaitsthem？Notatall。
Liketheshornones，whoseoperationhasleftthemuninjured，theyproveonlythattheirtimeisup。Whethermaimedorintact，theyareunfitfordutybecauseoftheirage；andtheirnon-returnisvaluelessasevidence。
Forlackofthetimenecessaryforexperimenting，thepartplayedbytheantennaeescapesus。Doubtfulitwasanddoubtfulitremains。
Mycagedprisonerlivesforeightdays。Everyeveningshedrawsformybenefitaswarmofvisitors，invaryingnumbers，nowtoonepartofthehouse，nowtoanother，asIplease。Icatchthem，astheycome，withthenetandtransferthem，themomenttheyarecaptured，toaclosedroom，inwhichtheyspendthenight。Nextmorning，Imarkthemwithatonsureonthethorax。
Theaggregateofthevisitorsduringthoseeighteveningsamountstoahundredandfifty，anastoundingnumberwhenIconsiderhowhardIhadtoseekduringthefollowingtwoyearstocollectthematerialsnecessaryforcontinuingtheseobservations。Thoughnotimpossibletofindinmynearneighbourhood，thecocoonsoftheGreatPeacockareatleastveryrare，foroldalmond-trees，onwhichthecaterpillarslive，arescarceintheseparts。FortwowintersIvisitedeveryoneofthosedecayedtreesatthelowerpartofthetrunk，underthetangleofhardgrassesinwhichtheyareclad，andtimeaftertimeIreturnedempty-handed。
ThereforemyhundredandfiftyMothscamefromafar，fromveryfar，withinaradiusofperhapsamileandahalformore。Howdidtheyknowofwhatwashappeninginmystudy？
Theperceptivefacultiescanreceiveinformationfromadistancebymeansofthreeagents:light，soundandsmell。Isitpermissibletospeakofvisioninthisinstance？Iwillreadilyadmitthatsightguidesthevisitorsoncetheyhavepassedthroughtheopenwindow。Butbeforethat，inthemysteryoutofdoors！ItwouldnotbeenoughtograntthemthefabulouseyeoftheLynx，whichwassupposedtoseethroughwalls；weshouldhavetoadmitakeennessofsightwhichcouldbeexercisedmilesaway。Itisuselesstodiscussanythingsooutrageous；letuspasson。
Soundislikewiseoutofthequestion。ThegreatfatMoth，capableofsendingasummonstosuchadistance，ismuteeventothemostacutehearing。
Itisjustpossiblethatshepossessesdelicatevibrations，passionatequivers，whichmightperhapsbeperceptiblewiththeaidofanextremelysensitivemicrophone；butrememberthatthevisitorshavetobeinformedatconsiderabledistances，thousandsofyardsaway。Undertheseconditions，wecannotwastetimethinkingofacoustics。Thatwouldbetosetsilencethetaskofwakingthesurroundingair。
Thereremainsthesenseofsmell。Inthedomainofoursenses，scent，betterthananythingelse，wouldmoreorlessexplaintheonrushoftheMoths，eventhoughtheydonotfindthebaitthatalluresthemuntilafteracertainamountofhesitation。Arethere，inpointoffact，effluviasimilartowhatwecallodour，effluviaofextremesubtlety，absolutelyimperceptibletoourselvesandyetcapableofimpressingasenseofsmellbetter-endowedthanours？Thereisaverysimpleexperimenttobemade。Itisaquestionofmaskingthoseeffluvia，ofstiflingthemunderapowerfulandpersistentodour，whichmasterstheolfactorysenseentirely。
Thetoo-strongscentwillneutralizetheveryfaintone。
Ibeginbysprinklingnaphthalineintheroomwherethemaleswillbereceivedthisevening。Also，inthebell-jar，besidethefemale，Ilayabigcapsulefullofthesamestuff。Whenthevisiting-hourcomes，Ihaveonlytostandinthedoorwayoftheroomtogetadistinctsmellofgas-works。
Myartificefails。TheMothsarriveasusual，theyentertheroom，passthroughitstarryatmosphereandmakeforthecagewithasmuchcertaintyofdirectionasthoughinunscentedsurroundings。
Myconfidenceintheolfactoryexplanationisshaken。Besides，Iamnowunabletogoon。Wornoutbyhersterilewait，myprisonerdiesontheninthday，afterlayingherunfertilizedeggsonthewireworkofthecage。Intheabsenceofasubjectofexperiment，thereisnomoretobedoneuntilnextyear。
ThistimeIshalltakemyprecautions，IshalllayinastocksoastobeabletorepeatasoftenasIwishtheexperimentswhichIhavealreadytriedandthosewhichIamcontemplating。Towork，then；andthatwithoutdelay。
Inthesummer，Iproclaimmyselfabuyerofcaterpillarsatasouapiece。
Theofferappealstosomeurchinsintheneighbourhood，myusualpurveyors。
OnThursdays，emancipatedfromthehorrorsofparsing，[note1]theyscourthefields，findthefatcaterpillarfromtimetotimeandbringhimtomeclingingtotheendofastick。Theydarenottouchhim，poormites；theyarestaggeredatmyaudacitywhenItakehiminmyfingersastheymighttakethefamiliarSilk-worm。
Rearedonalmond-treebranches，mymenagerieinafewdayssuppliesmewithmagnificentcocoons。Inthewinter，assiduoussearchesatthefootofthefosteringtreecompletemycollection。Friendsinterestedinmyenquiriescometomyassistance。Inshort，bydintoftrouble，muchrunningabout，commercialbargainsandnotafewscratchesfrombrambles，Iamthepossessorofanassortmentofcocoons，ofwhichtwelve，bulkierandheavierthantheothers，tellmethattheybelongtofemales。
Adisappointmentawaitsme，forMayarrives，aficklemonthwhichbringstonaughtmypreparations，thecauseofsomuchanxiety。
Wehavewinterbackagain。Themistralhowls，tearsthebuddingleavesfromtheplane-treesandstrewsthegroundwiththem。ItisascoldasinDecember。Wehavetolightthefiresagainatnightandresumethethickclotheswhichwewerebeginningtoleaveoff。
MyMothsaresorelytried。Theyhatchlateandaretorpid。Aroundmywirecages，inwhichthefemaleswait，oneto-day，anotherto-morrow，accordingtotheorderoftheirbirth，fewmalesornonecomefromtheoutside。Andyettherearesomecloseathand，fortheplumedgallantsresultingfrommyharvestwereplacedoutinthegardenassoonastheywerehatchedandrecognized。Whethernearneighboursorstrangersfromafar，veryfewarrive；
andtheseareonlyhalfhearted。Theyenterforamoment，thendisappearanddonotreturn。Thelovershavegrowncold。
Itisalsopossiblethatthelowtemperatureisunfavourabletothetell-taleeffluvia，whichmightwellbeenhancedbythewarmthanddecreasedbythecold，ashappenswithscents。Myyearislost。Oh，whatlaboriousworkisthisexperimentingatthemercyofthesuddenchangesanddeceptionsofashortseason！
Ibeginalloveragain，forthethirdtime。Irearcaterpillars，Iscourthecountryinsearchofcocoons。WhenMayreturns，Iamsuitablyprovided。
Theweatherisfineandrespondstomyhopes。Ioncemoreseetheincursionswhichhadstruckmesopowerfullyatthebeginning，atthetimeofthehistoricinvasionwhichfirstledtomyresearches。
Nightlythevisitorsturnup，insquadsoftwelve，twentyormore。Thefemale，alusty，big-belliedmatron，clingingfirmlytothetrellis-workofthecage。Shemakesnomovement，givesnotsomuchasaflutterofthewings，seemsindifferenttowhatisgoingon。Noristhereanyodour，sofarasthemostsensitivenostrilsinthehouseholdcanjudge，noranyrustleperceptibletothemostdelicatehearingamongmyfamily，allofwhomarecalledintobearevidence。Inmotionlesscontemplationshewaits。
Theothers，intwosorthreesormore，flopdownuponthedomeofthecage，runaboutitbrisklyineverydirection，lashitwiththetipsoftheirwingsincontinualmovement。Therearenoaffraysbetweenrivals。
Withnotasignofjealousyinregardtotheothersuitors，eachdoeshisutmosttoentertheenclosure。Tiringoftheirvainattempts，theyflyawayandjointhewhirlingthrongofdancers。Some，givingupallhope，escapethroughtheopenwindow；fresharrivalstaketheirplaces；and，onthetopofthecage，untilteno’clockintheevening，attemptstoapproachareincessantlyrenewed，soontobeabandonedandassoonresumed。
Everyeveningthecageismovedtoadifferentplace。Iputitonthenorthsideandthesouth，ontheground-floorandthefirstfloor，intherightwingandfiftyyardsawayintheleft，intheopenairorhiddeninadistantroom。Allthesesuddendisplacements，contrivedifpossibletoputtheseekersoffthescent，donottroubletheMothsintheleast。
Iwastemytimeandingenuityintryingtodeceivethem。
Recollectionofplacesplaysnoparthere。Yesterday，forinstance，thefemalewasinstalledinacertainroom。Thefeatheredmalescameflutteringthitherforacoupleofhours；severalevenspentthenightthere。Nextday，atsunset，whenImovethecage，allareoutofdoors。Ephemeralthoughtheybe，thenewestcomersarereadytorepeattheirnocturnalexpeditionsasecondtimeandathird。Wherewilltheygofirst，theseveteransofaday？
Theyknowallaboutthemeeting-placeofyesterday。Oneisinclinedtothinkthattheywillgobacktoit，guidedbymemory，andthat，findingnothingleft，theywillproceedelsewhithertocontinuetheirinvestigations。
Butno:contrarytomyexpectations，theydonothingofthesort。Notonereappearsintheplacewhichwassothicklycrowdedlastnight；notonepaysevenashortvisit。Theroomisrecognizedasdeserted，withoutthepreliminaryenquirywhichrecollectionwouldseemtodemand。Amorepositiveguidethanmemorysummonsthemelsewhere。
Untilnowthefemalehasbeenleftexposed，underthemeshesofawiregauze。Thevisitors，whoseeyesareusedtopiercingtheblackestgloom，canseeherbythevaguelightofwhattousisdarkness。WhatwillhappenifIimprisonherunderanopaquecover？Accordingtoitsnature，willnotthiscovereithersetfreeorarrestthetell-taleeffluvia？
Physicalscienceisto-daypreparingtogiveuswirelesstelegraphy，bymeansoftheHertzianwaves。CantheGreatPeacockhaveanticipatedoureffortsinthisdirection？Inordertosetthesurroundingairinmotionandtoinformpretendersmilesaway，canthenewly-hatchedbridehaveatherdisposalelectricormagneticwaves，whichonesortofscreenwouldarrestandanotherletthrough？Inaword，doesshe，inherownmanner，employakindofwirelesstelegraphy？Iseenothingimpossibleinthis:insectsareaccustomedtoinventthingsquiteaswonderful。
Ithereforelodgethefemaleinboxesofvariouscharacters。Somearemadeoftin，someofcardboard，someofwood。Allarehermeticallyclosed，areevensealedwithstoutputty。Ialsouseaglassbell-jarstandingontheinsulatingsupportofapaneofglass。
Well，undertheseconditionsofstrictclosing，neveramalearrives，notone，howeverfavourablethemildnessandquietoftheevening。Nomatteritsnature，whetherofmetalorglass，ofwoodorcardboard，theclosedreceptacleformsaninsuperableobstacletotheeffluviathatbetraythecaptive’swhereabouts。
Alayerofcottontwofingersthickgivesthesameresult。Iplacethefemaleinalargejar，tyingasheetofwaddingoverthemouthbywayofalid。Thisisenoughtokeeptheneighbourhoodinignoranceofthesecretsofmylaboratory。Nomaleputsinanappearance。
Ontheotherhand，makeuseofill-closed，crackedboxes，orevenhidetheminadrawer，inacupboard；and，notwithstandingthisaddedmystery，theMothswillarriveinnumbersasgreataswhentheycomethrongingtothetrellisedcagestandinginfullviewonatable。Ihaveretainedavividrecollectionofaneveningwhenthereclusewaswaitinginahat-boxatthebottomofaclosedwall-cupboard。TheMothsarrived，wenttothedoor，struckitwiththeirwings，knockedatittoexpresstheirwishtoenter。Passingwayfarers，comingnooneknowswhenceacrossthefields，theywellknewwhatwasinsidethere，behindthoseboards。
Wemustthereforerejecttheideaofanymeansofinformationsimilartothatofwire-lesstelegraphy，forthefirstscreensetup，whetheragoodconductororabad，stopsthefemale’ssignalscompletely。Togivetheseafreepassageandcarrythemtoadistance，oneconditionisindispensable:
thereceptacleinwhichthefemaleiscontainedmustbeimperfectlyclosed，soastoestablishacommunicationbetweentheinnerandtheouterair。Thisbringsusbacktotheprobabilityofanodour，thoughthatwascontradictedbymyexperimentwithnaphthaline。
Mystockofcocoonsisexhaustedandtheproblemisstillobscure。ShallItryagainanotheryear，thefourth？Iabandonthethoughtforthefollowingreasons:MothsthatmateatnightaredifficulttoobserveifIwanttowatchtheirintimateactions。Thegallantcertainlyneedsnoilluminanttoattainhisends；butmyfeeblehumanpowersofvisioncannotdispensewithoneatnight。Imusthaveatleastacandle，whichisoftenextinguishedbythewhirlingswarm。Alanternsavesusfromthesesuddeneclipses；butitsdimlight，streakedwithbroadshadows，doesnotsuitaconscientiousobserverlikemyself，whowantstoseeandtoseeclearly。
Noristhisall。ThelightofalampdivertstheMothsfromtheirobject，distractsthemfromtheirbusinessand，ifpersistent，gravelycompromisesthesuccessoftheevening。Thevisitorsnosoonerentertheroomthantheymakeawildrushfortheflame，singetheirfluffinitandthenceforth，frightenedbythescorchingreceived，ceasetobetrustworthywitnesses。Whentheyarenotburnt，whentheyarekeptatadistancebyaglasschimney，theyperchascloseastheycantothelightandtherestay，hypnotized。
Oneevening，thefemalewasinthedining-room，onatablefacingtheopenwindow。Alightedparaffin-lamp，withalargewhite-enamelshade，washangingfromtheceiling。Twoofthearrivalsalightedonthedomeofthecageandfussedaroundtheprisoner；sevenothers，aftergreetingherastheypassed，madeforthelamp，circledaboutitalittleandthen，fascinatedbytheradiantgloryoftheopalcone，perchedonit，motionless，undertheshade。Alreadythechildren’shandswereraisedtoseizethem。
"Don’t，"Isaid。"Leavethemalone。Letusbehospitableandnotdisturbthesepilgrimstothetabernacleoflight。"
Allthatevening，notoneofthesevenbudged。Nextmorning，theywerestillthere。Theintoxicationoflighthadmadethemforgettheintoxicationoflove。
Withcreaturessomadlyenamouredoftheradiantflame，preciseandprolongedexperimentbecomesunfeasiblethemomenttheobserverrequiresanartificialilluminant。IgiveuptheGreatPeacockandhisnocturnalnuptials。IwantaMothwithdifferenthabits，equallyskilledinkeepingconjugalappointments，butperformingintheday-time。
Beforecontinuingwithasubjectthatfulfilstheseconditions，letusdropchronologicalorderforamomentandsayafewwordsaboutalate-comerwhoarrivedafterIhadcompletedmyenquiries，ImeantheLesserPeacockAttacuspavoniaminor，LIN。。Somebodybroughtme，Idon’tknowwherefrom，amagnificentcocoonlooselywrappedinanamplewhite-silkenvelope。Outofthiscovering，withitsthick，irregularfolds，itwaseasytoextractacasesimilarinshapetotheGreatPeacock’s，butagooddealsmaller。Thefore-end，workedintothefashionofaneel-trapbymeansoffreeandconvergingfibres，whichpreventaccesstothedwellingwhilepermittingegresswithoutabreachofthewalls，indicatedakinswomanofthebignocturnalMoth；thesilkborethespinner’smark。
And，inpointoffact，towardstheendofMarch，onthemorningofPalmSunday，thecocoonwiththeeel-trapformationprovidesmewithafemaleoftheLesserPeacock，whomIatoncesecludeunderawire-gauzebellinmystudy。Iopenthewindowtoallowtheeventtobemadeknownalloverthedistrict；Iwantthevisitors，ifanycome，tofindfreeentrance。Thecaptivegripsthewiresanddoesnotmoveforaweek。
Agorgeouscreatureismyprisoner，inherbrownvelvetstreakedwithwavylines。Shehaswhitefuraroundherneck；aspeckofcarmineatthetipoftheupperwings；andfourlarge，eye-shapedspots，inwhichblack，white，redandyellow-ochrearegroupedinconcentriccrescents。ThedressisverylikethatoftheGreatPeacock，butlessdarkincolouring。IhaveseenthisMoth，soremarkableforsizeandcostume，threeorfourtimesinmylife。ItwasonlytheotherdaythatIfirstsawthecocoon。ThemaleIhaveneverseen。Ionlyknowthat，accordingtothebooks，heishalfthesizeofthefemaleandofabrighterandmorefloridcolour，withorange-yellowonthelowerwings。
Willhecome，theunknownspark，theplume-weareronwhomIhaveneverseteyes，soraredoesheappeartobeinmypartofthecountry？Inhisdistanthedgeswillhereceivenewsofthebridethatawaitshimonmystudytable？Iventuretofeelsureofit；andI
amright。Herehecomes，evensoonerthanIexpected。
Onthestrokeofnoon，asweweresittingdowntotable，littlePaulwhoislateowingtohiseagerinterestinwhatislikelytohappen，suddenlyrunsuptous，hischeeksaglow。InhisfingersfluttersaprettyMoth，aMothcaughtthatmomenthoveringinfrontofmystudy。Paulshowsmehisprize；hiseyesaskanunspokenquestion。
"Hullo！"Isay。"Thisistheverypilgrimwewereexpecting。Let’sfoldupournapkinsandgoandseewhat’shappening。Wecandinelater。"
Dinnerisforgotteninthepresenceofthewondersthataretakingplace。
Withinconceivablepunctuality，theplume-wearershastentoanswerthecaptive’smagiccall。Theyarriveonebyone，withatortuousflight。Allofthemcomefromthenorth。Thisdetailhasitssignificance。Asamatteroffact，duringthepastweekwehaveexperiencedafiercereturnofwinter。
Thenorthwindhasbeenblowingagale，killingtheimprudentalmond-blossoms。
Itwasoneofthoseferociouusstormswhich，asarule，usherinthespringinourpartoftheworld。Todaythetemperaturehassuddenlygrownmilder，butthewindisstillblowingfromthenorth。
NowatthisfirstvisitalltheMothshurryingtotheprisonerentertheenclosurefromthenorth；theyfollowthemovementoftheair；notonebeatsagainstit。Iftheircompasswereasenseofsmellsimilartoourown，iftheywereguidedbyodoriferousparticlesdissolvedintheair，theyoughttoarrivefromtheoppositedirection。Iftheycamefromthesouth，wemightbelievethemtobeinformedbyeffluviacarriedbythewind；comingastheydofromthenorth，throughthemistral，thatmightysweeperoftheatmosphere，howcanwesupposethemtohaveperceived，atagreatdistance，whatwecallasmell？Thisrefluxofscentedatomsinadirectioncontrarytotheaerialcurrentseemstomeinadmissible。
Foracoupleofhours，inradiantsunshine，thevisitorscomeandgooutsidethefrontofthestudy。Mostofthemsearchforalongwhile，exploringthewall，flittingalongtheground。Toseetheirhesitation，onewouldthinkthattheywereatalosstodiscovertheexactplaceofthebaitthatattractsthem。Thoughtheyhavecomefromveryfarwithoutmistake，theyseemuncertainoftheirbearingsoncetheyareonthespot。Nevertheless，soonerorlatertheyentertheroomandpaytheirrespectstothecaptive，withoutmuchimportunity。Attwoo’clockallisover。TenMothshavebeenhere。
Allthroughtheweek，eachtimeatnoonday，whenthelightisatitsbrightest，Mothsarrive，butindecreasingnumbers。Thetotalisnearlyforty。IseenoreasontorepeatexperimentswhichcouldaddnothingtowhatIalreadyknow；andIconfinemyselftostatingtwofacts。Inthefirstplace，theLesserPeacockisadayinsect，thatistosay，hecelebrateshisweddinginthebrilliantlightofthemiddleoftheday。Heneedsradiantsunshine。TheGreatPeacock，onthecontrary，whomhesocloselyresemblesinhisadultformandintheworkwhichhedoesasacaterpillar，requirestheduskoftheearlyhoursofthenight。Lethimwhocanexplainthisstrangecontrastofhabits。
Inthesecondplace，apowerfulair-current，sweepingtheotherwayanyparticlescapableofinstructingthesenseofsmell，doesnotpreventtheMoths’arrivingfromadirectionoppositetothatoftheodoriferousflux，asourphysicsimagineit。
IfIamtogoonwithmyobservations，IwantadayMoth；nottheLesserPeacock，whomadehisappearancetoolate，atatimewhenIhadnothingtoaskhim，butanother，nomatterwhom，providedthathebequickatdiscoveringnuptialfeasts。ShallIfindthisMoth？
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[note1]:ThursdayistheweeklyholidayinFrenchschools——Translator’sNote。11，TheLifeoftheCaterpillar，byJ。HenriFabre，1916TheLifeoftheCaterpillar，byJ。HenriFabre，1916XII:THEBANDEDMONK
YES，Ishallfindhim；indeedIhavehimIalready。Alittlechapofseven，withawideawakefacethatdoesn’tgetwashedeveryday，barefeetandapairoftatteredbreechesheldupbyabitofstring，aboywhocomesregularlytosupplythehousewithturnipsandtomatoes，arrivesonemorningcarryinghisbasketofvegetables。Afterthefewsousduetohismotherforthegreenshavebeencountedonebyoneintohishand，heproducesfromhispocketsomethingwhichhefoundthedaybefore，besideahedge，whilepickinggrassfortheRabbits:
"Andwhataboutthis？"heasks，holdingthethingouttome。"Whataboutthis？Willyouhaveit？"
"Yes，certainlyI’llhaveit。Tryandfindmesomemore，asmanyasyoucan，andI’llpromiseyouplentyofridesontheroundaboutonSunday。
Meanwhile，mylad，here’sapennyforyou。Don’tmakeamistakewhenyougiveinyouraccounts；putitsomewherewhereyouwon’tmixitupwiththeturnip-money。"
Dazzledwithdelightatthesightofsomuchwealth，mylittleragamuffinpromisestosearchwithawill，alreadyseeingvisionsofafortunetobehis。
Whenhehasgone，Iexaminethething。Itisworthwhile。Itisahandsomecocoon，blunt-shaped，notatallunliketheproductofourSilk-wormnurseries，ofafirmconsistencyandatawnycolour。ThecursoryinformationwhichIhavepickedupfrombooksofreferencemakesmealmostcertainthatitistheBombyxoftheOak，theOakEggar。Ifthisisso，whatluck！IshallbeabletocontinuemyobservationsandperhapscompletewhattheGreatPeacockbegantoshowme。
TheOakEggaris，infact，aclassic；thereisnotanentomologicaltreatisebutspeaksofhisexploitsinthewedding-season。Theytellushowamotherhatchesincaptivity，insidearoomandevenhiddeninabox。
Sheisfarawayfromthecountry，amidthetumultofabigtown。Theeventisneverthelessdivulgedtothosewhomitconcernsinthewoodsandthemeadows。Guidedbysomeinconceivablecompass，themalesarrive，hasteningfromthedistantfields；theygotothebox，tapatit，flyroundandroundit。
Ihadreadofthesemarvels；butseeing，seeingwithone’sowneyes，andatthesametimeexperimentingalittleisquiteanothermatter。Whatdoesmypennypurchaseholdinstoreforme？WillthefamousBombyxemergefromit？
Letuscallherbyherothername:theBandedMonk。ThisunusualnameofMonkissuggestedbythemale’sdress:amonk’sfrockofamodestrustybrown。Butinthiscasethestuffisadeliciousvelvet，withapaletransversalbandandalittlewhite，eye-shapeddotonthefrontwings。
TheBandedMonkisnot，inmyregion，acommonMothwhomwearelikelytocatchifthefancytakesustogooutwithanetattheproperseason。
Ihaveneverseenitaboutthevillage，especiallynotinmylonelyenclosure，duringallthetwentyyearsthatIhavespenthere。Iamnotaferventhunter，Iadmit；thecollector’sdeadinsectinterestsmeverylittle；
Iwantitalive，inthefullexerciseofitsfaculties。ButImakeupfortheabsenceofthecollector’szealbyanattentiveeyeforallthatenlivensthefields。AMothsoremarkableinsizeandcostumewouldcertainlynothaveescapedmehadImethim。
ThelittleseekerwhomIhadcaughtsonicelywithapromiseoftheroundaboutnevermadeasecondfind。ForthreeyearsIrequisitionedfriendsandneighbours，especiallytheyoungsters，thosesharp-eyedscrapersofthebrushwood；Imyselfscrapedagreatdealundermassesofdeadleaves，inspectedstone-heaps，examinedhollowtree-trunks。Mytroublewasinvain:
thepreciouscocoonwasnowheretobefound。SufficeittosaythattheBandedMonkisveryscarceinmyneighbourhood。Theimportanceofthisdetailwillbeseenwhenthetimecomes。
AsIsuspected，mysolitarycocoondidbelongtothefamousMoth。Onthe20thofAugustthereemergesafemale，corpulentandbig-bellied，attiredlikethemale，butinalighterfrock，moreinthenankeenstyle。Iestablishherinawire-gauzebell-jarinthemiddleofmystudy，onthebiglaboratory-table，litteredwithbooks，pots，trays，boxes，test-tubesandotherenginesofscience。Ihavedescribedthesettingbefore:itisthesameasinthecaseoftheGreatPeacock。Theroomislightedbytwowindowslookingoutonthegarden。Oneisclosed，theotheriskeptopendayandnight。TheMothisplacedbetweenthetwo，intheshadow，somefourorfiveyardsaway。
Therestofthedayandthefollowingdaypasswithoutanythingworthmentioning。Hangingbyherclawstothefrontofthetrellis-work，onthesidenearestthelight，theprisonerismotionless，inert。Thereisnowavingofthewings，noquiveringoftheantennæ；。EvensodidthefemaleGreatPeacockbehave。
ThemotherBombyxmatures；hertenderfleshhardens。Bysomeprocessofwhichoursciencehasnottheremotestidea，sheelaboratesanirresistiblebaitwhichwillbringcallersflockingtoherfromthefourcornersoftheheavens。Whattakesplaceinthatfatbody，whattransformationsareperformedthatshallpresentlyrevolutionizeeverythingaround？Weretheyknowntous，theMoth’snostrumswouldaddacubittoourstature。
Onthethirddaythebrideisready。Thefestivitiesburstintofullswing。Iwasinthegarden，alreadydespairingofsuccess，solongwerethingsdelayed，when，ataboutthreeo’clockintheafternoon，inveryhotweatherandbrilliantsunshine，IsawahostofMothsgyratingintheembrasureoftheopenwindow。
Itistheloverscomingtocallupontheirsweetheart。Somearejustleavingtheroom，othersgoingin，othersagainarepercheduponthewall，restingasthoughjadedafteralongjourney。Iseesomeapproachinginthedistance，overthewalls，overthecurtainofcypress-trees。Theyarehurryingupfromalldirections，butbecomingmoreandmoreare。Imissedthebeginningofthereception；andtheguestsarenearlyallhere。
Letusgoupstairs。Thistime，inbroaddaylight，withoutlosingasingledetail，IoncemorewitnessthebewilderingspectacleintowhichthegreatnightMothinitiatedme。Mystudyisfilledwithaswarmofmales，whomIestimateataglancetonumberaboutsixty，asfarasitispossibletomakeacountinthisseethingmass。Aftercirclingafewtimesroundthecage，severalgototheopenwindow，butreturnagainforthwithandresumetheirevolutions。Themosteagerperchonthecage，hustleandtrampleononeanother，fightingforthegoodplaces。Insidethebarrier，thecaptivewaitsimpassively，withhergreatpaunchhangingagainstthewires。Shegivesnotasignofemotioninthepresenceoftheturbulentthrong。
Goinginorgoingout，fussingroundthecageorflittingthroughtheroom，formorethanthreehourstheykeepuptheirfrenziedsaraband。Butthesunissinking，thetemperaturebecomesalittlecooler。ChilledlikewiseistheardouroftheMoths。Manygooutanddonotcomeinagain。Otherstakeuptheirpositionsinreadinessforthemorrow；theysettleonthetransomsoftheclosedwindow，astheGreatPeacocksdid。Thecelebrationisoverforto-day。Itwillcertainlyberenewedto-morrow，foritisstillwithoutresult，becauseofthewires。
Butalas，tomygreatdismay，itisnotrenewed；andthisthroughmyownfault！Lateintheday，someonebringsmeaPrayingMantis，worthyofattentionbecauseofherexceptionallysmallsize。Preoccupiedwiththeeventsoftheafternoon，withoutthinkingwhatIamdoing，IhastilyplacethecarnivorousinsectinthecagethatholdsmyBombyx。NotforamomentdoIdreamthatthiscohabitationcanturnoutill。TheMantisissuchalittle，slenderthing；theotherissoobese！
AndthusIentertainednoapprehensions。
Ah，littledidIknowthebloodthirstyfuryofwhichthegrapnelledinsectiscapable！Nextmorning，tomybitterastonishment，IfindthetinyMantisdevouringthehugeMoth。Theheadandthefrontpartofthebreasthavealreadydisappeared。Horriblecreature！WhatadisappointmentIowetoyou！Farewelltomyresearches，whichIhadcherishedinmyimaginationallnightlong；notforthreeyearsshallIbeabletoresumethem，forlackofasubject。
Badluckmustnot，however，makeusforgetthelittlethatwehavelearnt。
Atonesitting，somesixtymalescame。ConsideringtherarityoftheMonkandrememberingtheyearsoffruitlesssearchesconductedbymyassistantsandmyself，westandastoundedatthisnumber。Withafemaleforabait，theundiscoverablehassuddenlybecomeamultitude。
Nowwheredidtheycomefrom？Fromeveryquarterandfromveryfar，beyondadoubt。Duringmyyearsofexplorationofmyneighbourhood，Ihavegottoknoweverybushinitandeveryheapofstones；
andIaninapositiontodeclarethattherearenoOakEggarsthere。Tomaketheswarmthatfilledmystudy，thewholeofthesurroundingdistrictmusthavecontributed，fromthissideandfromthat，withinaradiuswhichIdarenotdetermine。
Threeyearspass；andfortunepersistentlyentreatedatlastgrantsmetwoMonk-cocoons。TowardsthemiddleofAugust，bothofthem，withinafewdaysofeachother，givemeafemale。Thisisapieceofluckwhichwillallowmetovaryandrenewmytests。
IquicklyrepeattheexperimentswhichhavealreadyprocuredmeamostpositivereplyfromtheGreatPeacock。Thepilgrimofthedayisnolesscleverthanthepilgrimofthenight。Hebafflesallmytricks。Hehastensinfalliblytotheprisoner，inherwire-gauzecage，inwhateverpartofthehousetheapparatusbeinstalled；heisabletodiscoverherhiddeninacupboard；heguesseshersecretpresenceinaboxofanykind，providedthatitbenottightlyclosed。Heceasestocome，forlackofinformation，whenthecasketishermeticallysealed。ThusfarweseemerelyarepetitionofthefeatsoftheGreatPeacock。
Awell-closedbox，theaircontainedinwhichdoesnotcommunicatewiththeouteratmosphere，leavestheMonkincompleteignoranceoftheprisoner’swhereabouts。Notonearrives，evenwhentheboxisexposedforeveryeyetoseeinthewindow。Thisbringsback，moreurgentlythanever，theideaofodoriferouseffluvia，intransmissiblethroughawallofmetal，cardboard，woodorglass，nomatterwhich。
Whenputtothetest，thegreatnightMothwasnotbaffledbythenaphthaline，whosepowerfulsmellought，tomythinking，tomaskultrasubtleemanations，imperceptibletoanyhumannostrils。IrepeattheexperimentwiththeMonk。
ThistimeIlavishalltheresourcesinthewayofscentsandstenchesthatmystoreofdrugspermits。
Iplacethesaucers，partlyinsidethewire-gauzecage，thefemale’sprison，andpartlyallroundit，inacontinuouscircle。Somecontainnaphthaline，othersoiloflavender，othersparaffin，others，lastly，alkalinesulphurssmellingofrotteneggs。Shortofasphyxiatingtheprisoner，Icandonomore。
Thesearrangementsaremadeinthemorning，sothattheroommaybethoroughlysaturatedwhenthetrysting-hourarrives。
Intheafternoon，thestudyhasbecomeanodiouslaboratoryinwhichthepenetratingaromaoflavender-oilandthefoulstenchofsulphurettedhydrogenpredominate。RememberthatIsmokeinthisroomandplentifullyatthat。Willtheconcentratedodoursofagas-works，asmoker’sdivan，ascent-shop，anoil-wellandachemicalfactorysucceedinputtingofttheMonk？
Notatall。Alittlebeforethree，theMothsarrive，asnumerousasever。Theygotothecage，whichIhavetakenpainstocoverwithathickkitchen-cloth，soastoincreasethedifficulty。Thoughtheyseenothingaftertheyhaveentered，thoughtheyaresteepedinaforeignatmosphereinwhichanysubtlefragranceshouldhavebeenannihilated，theyflytowardstheprisonerandtrytogetatherbyslippingunderthefoldsofthecloth。
Myartificesarefruitless。
Afterthisreverse，sodefiniteinitsresults，whichrepeatswhatmynaphthalineexperimentwiththeGreatPeacocktaughtme，Iought，logicallyspeaking，togiveupthetheorythatodorouseffluviaserveasaguidetotheMothsinvitedtothenuptialfeast。ThatIdidnotdosowasduetoacasualobservation。Theunexpected，thefortuitous，oftenprovidesuswithoneofthosesurpriseswhichshowustheroadtothetruth，hithertosoughtinvain。
Oneafternoon，tryingtodiscoverwhethersightplaysanypartinthesearch，oncethattheMothshaveenteredtheroom，Iplacethefemaleinaglassbell-jarandgiveheralittleoak-branch，withwitheredleaves，asaperch。Theapparatusisputonatable，oppositetheopenwindow。
Onentering，theMothscannotfailtoseetheprisoner，standingasshedoeswheretheyareboundtopass。Thepanwithitslayerofsand，inwhichthefemalespentthepreviousnightandthemorningunderawire-gauzecover，isinmyway。Iputit，withoutpremeditation，onthefloorattheotherendoftheroom，inacornerwhichisonlydimlylighted。Itissevenyardsfromthewindow。
Theresultofthesepreparationsupsetsallmyideas。OftheMothsarriving，nonestopsattheglassbell，wherethefemaleisplainlyvisible，inthefulllight。Theypassbywithutterindifference。
Notaglanceinherdirection，notanenquiry。Theyallflyrighttothefarendoftheroom，totheduskycornerwhereIplacedthetrayandthecage。Theyalightonthetrellisedtopandexploreitatlength，flappingtheirwingsandhustlingoneanotheralittle。Alltheafternoon，untilsunset，theydancearoundthedeserteddomethesamesarabandtowhichtheactualpresenceofthefemalewouldgiverise。Atlasttheyflyaway，butnotallofthem。Therearepersistentoneswhorefusetogo，rootedtothespotbysomemagicattraction。
Astrangeresultindeed:myMothshastentowherethereisnothing，taketheirstandthereandwillnothedissuadedbytherepeatedwarningsoftheireyes；theypasswithoutstoppingforamomentatthebell-glassinwhichthefemalecannotfailtobeperceivedbyoneorotherofthosecomingandgoing。Befooledbyalure，theypaynoattentiontotherealthing。
Whatisitthatdeceivesthem？Thewholeofthenightbeforeandallthismorning，thefemalehassojournedunderthewire-gauzecover，eitherhangingtothetrelliswork，orrestingonthesandinthepan。Whatevershetouched，aboveallwithherfatbellyapparently，hasbecomeimpregnated，astheresultoflongcontact，withcertainemanations。Thereyouhaveherbait，herlove-philtre；thereyouhavewhatrevolutionizestheworldofMonks。Thesandretainsitforatimeandspreadsitseffluviaaround。
ItissmellthereforethatguidestheMoths，thatgivestheminformationatadistance。Dominatedbythesenseofsmell，theytakenonoticeofwhattheireyestellthem；theypassbytheglassprisoninwhichtheirlady-loveisnowinterned；theygotothewires，tothesand，onwhichthemagiccruetshaveshedtheircontents；theyracetothewildernesswherenaughtremainsofthewitchbutthescentedevidenceofhersojourn。
Theirresistiblephiltretakesacertaintimetoelaborate。Ipictureitasanexhalationwhichisgraduallygivenoffandsaturateseverythingthattouchesthefat，motionlesscreature。Whentheglassbellstandsdirectlyonthetableor，betterstill，onasquareofglass，thecommunicationbetweentheinteriorandtheouterairisinsufficient；andthemales，perceivingnothingbythesenseofsmell，keepaway，howeverlongtheexperimentbecontinued。Attheactualmoment，Icannotsubstantiatethisnon-transmissionthroughascreen，for，evenifIestablishamplecommunication，ifIseparatethebellfromitssupportbymeansofthreewedges，theMothsdonotcomeatfirst，howevermanytheremaybeintheroom。Butwaitforhalfanhour，moreorless:thealembicoffeminineflavoursbeginsitsdistillingandtherushofvisitorstakesplaceasusual。
NowthatIpossessthesedata，thisunexpectedlightonthesubject，Iamatlibertytovarymyexperiments，allofwhichleadtothesameconclusion。
Inthemorning，Iestablishthefemaleunderawire-gauzecover。Herperchisalittleoak-twigsimilartothelast。Here，motionless，asthoughdead，sheremainsforlonghours，buriedinthetuftofleavesthatistobeimpregnatedwithheremanations。Whenvisiting-timeapproaches，Iwithdrawthetwig，perfectlysaturated，andlayitonachair，neartheopenwindow。
Ontheotherhand，Ileavethefemaleunderhercover，wellinviewonthetable，inthemiddleoftheroom。
TheMothsarrive，firstone，thentwoandthree，soonfiveandsix。
Theycomein，goout，comeinagain，flyupanddown，gotoandfro，keepingallthetimetotheneighbourhoodofthechairwithitsoak-branch。Notonemakesforthebigtable，afewpacesfartherintotheroom，wherethefemaleiswaitingforthemunderthetrelliseddome。
Theyarehesitating，thatisclear；theyareseeking。
Atlasttheyfind。Andwhatdotheyfind？Theverytwigwhichinthemorninghadservedthepot-belliedmatronasabed。Withwingsswiftlyfluttering，theyalightuponthebranch；theyexploreitaboveandbelow，probeit，liftitandmoveit，untilatlastthelittlebitoffoliagedropsonthefloor。Theprobingbetweentheleavescontinuesnonetheless。
Underthebuffetingofthewingsandtheclawingofthefeet，thestickisnowrunningalongtheground，likeascrapofpaperpawedbyakitten。
Whilethetwigismovingawaywithitsbandofexplorers，twonewarrivalscomeuponthescene。Ontheirway，theyhavetopassthechair，whichforabriefspellboretheleafystick。Theystopatitandeagerlyinvestigatetheveryspotwhichbutnowwascoveredbythebranch。Andyet，intheircaseasinthatoftheothers，therealobjectoftheirdesiresisclosebythem，underawiregauzewhichIhaveomittedtoveil。Noonenoticesit。Onthefloor，theMonkscontinuetohustlethemattressonwhichthefemalelayinthemorningonthechair，theystillfumbleatthespotwherethisbeddingwasfirstplaced。Thesungoesdown；thetimecomestodepart。Besides，theeffluviaofpassionaregrowingfainter，aredispersing。Thevisitorsgoawaywithoutmoreado。Good-byetillto-morrow。
Thefollowingteststellmethatanymaterial，nomatterwhat，cantaketheplaceoftheleafybranch，thatchanceinspirationofmine。Sometimeinadvance，Iplacethefemaleonacouchofclothorflannel，ofwaddingorpaper。Ievensubjecthertothehardshipofacamp-bedofwood，glass，marbleormetal。Alltheseobjects，afteracontactofsufficientlength，havethesamepowerfulattractionforthemalesasthemotherMonkherself。
Theyretainthispropertytoavaryingextent，accordingtotheirnature。
Thebestarewadding，flannel，dust，sand，inshort，porousobjects。Metals，marbleandglass，onthecontrary，soonlosetheirefficacy。Lastly，anythingonwhichthefemalehasrestedcommunicatesitsvirtuetootherplacesbysimplecontact，aswitnesstheMothscrowdingtotheseatofthecane-bottomedchairaftertheoak-branchhadfallenfromit。
Letususeoneofthebestbeds，flannel，forinstance，andweshallseeacuriousthing。Iplaceatthebottomofalongtest-tubeorofanarrow-neckedbottle，justwideenoughtoallowoftheMoth’spassage，apieceofflannelonwhichthemotherhasbeenlyingallthemorning。
Thecallersgointothevessels，flounderabout，donotknowhowtogetoutagain。Ihaveinventedamouse-trapforthembymeansofwhichIcoulddoterrificexecution。Letusreleasethepoorthings，removethepieceofstuffandputitawayinanhermeticallyclosedbox。TheinfatuatedMothsgobacktothetest-tube，headlongreenterthetrap。Theyareattractedbytheeffluviawhichthesaturatedflannelhasimpartedtotheglass。
Iamfullyconvinced。TosummontheMothsofthedistricttothewedding，toapprisethematadistanceofherpresenceandtoguidethem，thebrideemitsanextremelysubtlescent，imperceptibletoourownorgansofsmell。
WiththemotherMonkheldtotheirnostrils，thosearoundmeperceivenottheleastodour，noteventheyoungest，whosesensesarenotyetvitiated。
Thisquintessenceeasilyimpregnateseveryobjectonwhichthefemalerestsforanylengthoftime；andthenceforththeactualobjectbecomesaspotentacentreofattractionasthemotherherself，untiltheemanationsaredispelled。
Nothingvisiblebetraysthebait。Onapieceofpaper，arecentresting-placearoundwhichthevisitorscrowd，thereisnotanappreciabletrace，nomoistureofanykind；thesurfaceisjustascleanasbeforetheimpregnation。
Theproductisslowlyelaboratedandhastoaccumulatealittlewhilebeforemanifestingitsfullstrength。Whentakenfromhercouchandplacedelsewhere，thefemalelosesherattractionsforthetimeandbecomesanobjectofindifference；itistheresting-place，saturatedbylongcontact，thatdrawsthenewcomers。Butthebatteriesarerechargedandthedesertedonerecoversherpower。
Theappearanceofthewarningeffluviumisdelayedforalongerorshorterperiodaccordingtothespecies。Thenewly-hatchedMothhastomatureforatimeandtoputherdistilleryinorder。AfemaleGreatPeacock，borninthemorning，sometimeshasvisitorsthatsameevening，butofteneronthesecondday，afterpreparationslastingsomefortyhours。
ThefemaleBandedMonkadjournshersummonslongerthanthat:herbannsofmarriagearenotpublisheduntilaftertwoorthreedays’waiting。
Letusreturnforamomenttotheproblematicalfunctionsoftheantennæ；。
ThemaleMonksportsasumptuouspair，similartothoseoftheGreatPeacock，whovieswithhiminhismatrimonialexpeditions。Arewetolookuponthesehairyfeelersasaguidingcompass？Irepeat，withoutlayingmuchstressonthematter，myformeramputations。Noneofthepatientscomesback。
Wemustbecharyofdrawinginferences，however。TheGreatPeacockhasshownusthatthefailuretoreturnisduetomoreseriousreasonsthanamputationofthehorns。
Moreover，asecondMonk，theCloverBombyx，nearlyakintothefirstand，likehim，superblyplumed，setsusanexceedinglyperplexingproblem。
Heisfairlyplentifularoundmyplace；evenintheenclosureIfindhiscocoon，whichmighteasilybeconfusedwiththatoftheOakBombyx。Iamdeceivedatfirstbytheresemblance。Outofsixcocoons，fromwhichI
expectedtoobtainBandedMonks，sixfemalesoftheotherspecieshatchattheendofAugust。Well，aroundthosesixfemales，borninmyhouse，neveramaleappears，thoughthereisnodoubtthatthetuftedonesarepresentintheneighbourhood。
Ifspreadingfeatheredantennæ；arereallyorgansforreceivinginformationatadistance，whyarenotmyrichly-hornedneighboursinformedofwhatishappeninginmystudy？WhydotheirfineplumesleavethemindifferenttoeventsthatwouldbringtheBandedMonkhasteningupincrowds？Oncemore，theorgandoesnotdeterminetheaptitude。Thisoneisgiftedandthatoneisnot，despiteorganicsimilarity。13，TheLifeoftheCaterpillar，byJ。HenriFabre，1916TheLifeoftheCaterpillar，byJ。HenriFabre，1916XIII:THESENSEOFSMELL
INPHYSICSwehearofnothingnowadaysbuttheRö；ntgenrays，whichpenetratedensebodiesandphotographtheinvisibleforUS。Afinediscovery，buthowinsignificantinfaceofthesurpriseswhichthefuturereservesforuswhen，better-informedofthewhyandwhereforeofthings，wesupplementwithartthefeeblenessofoursensesandsucceedinrivalling，beiteversolittle，thekeennessofperceptionrevealedbythebrutecreation。
Howenviable，inmanycases，isthisanimalsuperiority！Itteachesusthepovertyofourattainments；itdeclaresthemediocrityofoursensoryapparatus；itgivesusevidenceofimpressionsforeigntoournature；itproclaimsrealitiessofarinexcessofourattributesthattheyastoundus。
Awretchedcaterpillar，thePineProcessionary，splitshisbackintometeorologicalair-holeswhichsnuffthecomingweatherandforetellthesquall；thebirdofprey，withitsincomparablylongsight，seesfromhighinthecloudstheField-mousesquattingontheground；theblindedBatsguidetheirflightwithoutinjurytothemselvesamidSpallanzani’s[note1]inextricablemazeofthreads；theCarrier-pigeon，thoughmovedahundredleaguesfromhome，infalliblyregainshiscoteacrossimmensitieswhichhehasnevertraversedunaided；withinthelimitsofherhumblerflight，aBee，theChalicodoma，[note2]alsospanstheunknown，accomplishesalongjourneyandreturnstohermassofcells。
ThemanwhohasneverseenaDoghuntingfortrufflesdoesnotknowoneofthefinestachievementsofthesenseofsmell。Absorbedinitsfunctions，theanimaltrotsalong，withitsnosetothewind，atamoderatepace。
Itstops，questionsthegroundwithitsnostrils，scratchesforafewseconds，withoutundueexcitement，andlooksupatitsmaster:
"Hereweare，"itseemstosay，"hereweare！
OnnywordofhonourasaDog，there’satrufflehere。"
Anditspeaksthetruth。Themasterdigsatthepointindicated。Ifthetrowelgoesastray，theDogshowsthemanhowtoputitrightbysniffingatthebottomofthehole。Donotbeafraidofthestonesandrootsinbetween:despitethedepthandinterveningobstacles，thetuberwillcome。
ADog’snosecannotlie。
"Subtletyofsmell，"yousay。
Ihavenoobjection，ifbythatyoumeanthattheanimal’snasalpassagesaretheorganofperception；butisthethingperceivedalwaysameresmell，intheordinaryacceptationoftheword，aneffluviumsuchasourownsensesunderstandit？Ihavesomereasontodoubtthis。Letussetthematterforth。
IhavehadthegoodfortuneonseveraloccasionstoaccompanyaDogwhowasagreatexpetathistrade。Certainlyhewasnothingtolookat，thsartistwhomIwassoanxioustoseeatwork:justaDog，placidanddeliberateinhisways，ugly，unkempt；thesortofDogthatyouwouldneveradmittoyourfireside。Talentandpovertyoftengohandinhand。
Hismaster，acelebratedrabassier[note3]inthevillage，convincedthatIhadnointentionofstealinghissecretsandonedaysettingupincompetition，allowedmetojoinhiminhisexpeditions，afavourwhichhedidnotoftengrant。Theworthymanwasquitewillingtofallinwithmyviews，oncehesawthatIwasnotanapprenticebutmerelyanenquirerwhomadedrawings[note4]andwrotedownlistsofundergroundvegetablethings，insteadofmarketingmybagfuloftreasure-trove，thegloryoftheChristmasTurkey。
ItwasagreedbetweenusthattheDogshouldactashepleasedandreceiveabitofbreadashisrewardaftereachdiscovery，indiscriminately。Everyspotscratchedupbyhispawswastobedugandtheobjectindicatedextractedwithoutourtroublingaboutitscommercialvalue。Inocasewasthemaster’sexperiencetointerveneanddivertthedogfromaspotwherepracticetoldhimthatnothingsaleablewastobefound，for，indrawingupmybotanicallists，Ipreferredwretchedandunmarketableproductstothechoicestmorsels，thoughtheseofcoursewerewelcomedwhentheyappeared。
Thusconducted，theundergroundbotanizingwasveryfruitful。Withhisperspicaciousnose，theDogmademegatherindifferentlythelargeandthesmall，thefreshandtheputrid，thescentedandtheunscented，thefragrantandthestinking。Iwasamazedatmycollection，whichcomprisedthegreaterpartofthehypogeanfungiinmyneighbourhood。
Whatavarietyofstructureandaboveallofodour，theprimaryqualityinthisquestionofscent！Therearesomethathavenothingmorenoticeablethanavaguefungousmustiness，whichismoreorlessevidentinall。Somesmellofturnips，ofrottencabbage；somearefetidenoughtofillthecollector’shousewiththeirstench。Therealtrufflealonepossessesthearomadeartotheepicure。
Ifsmell，asweunderstandit，istheDog’sonlyguide，howdoeshemanagetofindhiswaythroughalltheseincongruousodours？
Isheapprisedofthecontentsofthesoilbyageneralemanation，thefungouseffluviumcommontothedifferentspecies？Inthatcaseanextremelyembarrassingquestionarises。
Ipaidsomeattentiontotheordinarymushrooms，manyofwhich，asyetinvisible，announcedtheircomingasimminentbycrackingthesurfaceoftheground。NowIneversawtheDogstopatanyofthosepointswheremyeyesdivinedthecryptogampushingbacktheearthwiththethrustofitscap，pointswheretheordinaryfungoussmellwascertainlymostpronounced。
Hepassedthembyscornfully，withnotasniff，withnotastrokeofhispaw。Andyetthethingwasunderground；anditsreekwassimilartootherswhichhesometimespointedouttous。
IcamebackfromtheDog’sschoolwiththeconvictionthatthetruffle-detectingnosehasabetterguidethansmell，inthesenseinwhichourolfactorypowersrealizeit。Itmustperceive，inaddition，effluviaofadifferentorder，fullofmysterytous，whoarenotequippedaccordingly。Lighthasitsdarkrays，whicharewithouteffectuponourretinæ；，butnotapparentlyuponall。Whyshouldnotthedomainofsmellhaveitssecretemanations，unknowntooursensesbutperceptibletoadifferentlyconstructedorganofsmell？
IfthescentoftheDogleavesusperplexedtothisextent，thatitisimpossibleforustosayexactlyoreventosuspectwhatitperceives，itatleasttellsusplainlythatweshouldbegreatlymistakentocompareeverythingbyhumanstandards。Theworldofsensationsisfarlargerthanthelimitsofoursensibilityadmit。Whatanumberoffactsintheworkingoftheforcesofnatureescapeusforwantoforgansdelicateenoughtoperceivethem！
Theunknown，thatinexhaustiblefieldwhichthefuturewillcultivate，holdsharvestsinstoreforusbesidewhichourpresentknowledgeisbutapitifulgleaning。Underthesickleofsciencesheaveswillonedayfallwhosegrainto-daywouldseemasenselessparadox。Scientificillusions？
Notso，ifyouplease，butundeniableandpositiverealities，affirmedbytheanimalworld，whichincertainrespectshasagreatadvantageovertheworldofman。
Inspiteofhislongprofessionalpractice，inspiteofthearomaofthetuberwhichheisseeking，therabassiercannotguessthepresenceofthetruffle，whichripensinwinterundergroundtoadepthofeighteeninchesorso；heneedstheaidoftheDogorthePig，whosescentpriesintothesecretsofthesoil。Well，thesesecretsareknowntodifferentinsectsevenbetterthantoourtwohelpers。Inordertodiscoverthetuberonwhichtheirfamilyofgrubsistobefed，theypossessascentofexceptionalperfection。
Longago，fromtrufflesdugupspoiltandteemingwithverminandplacedinthisconditioninaglassjarwithalayeroffreshsand，IobtainedfirstasmallredBeetleAnisotomacinnamomea，PANZ。
andthenvariousDiptera，includingaSapromyzon，who，withhersluggishflightandfeebleframe，remindsmeofaFly，cladinyellowvelvet，knownasScatophagascybalaria，thatplacidfrequenterofhumanexcrementinautumn。
Thelatterfindshertruffleonthesurfaceoftheground，atthefootofawallorhedge，man’susualhastyrefugeinthecountry；buthowdoestheotherknowatwhatpointundergroundlieshers，orratherhergrubs’
truffle？Togodownandhuntaboutinthedepthsisbeyondherpower。Herfraillimbs，whichthemovingofagrainofsandwouldwarp；herwings，which，ifextended，wouldblockherwaythroughagorge；herdressofstiffsilk，militatingagainstasmoothpassage:
theseareallagainsther。TheSapromyzonisobligedtolayhereggsonthesurfaceofthesoil，butshemustdosoattheveryspotbeneathwhichthetrufflelies，forthetinygrubswoulddieiftheyhadtoroamatrandomuntiltheycameupontheirprovender，whichisalwayssparselydistributed。
Thetruffle-huntingFlyisthereforeinformedbyhersenseofsmellofthespotsfavourabletohermaternalplans；shepossessesthescentoftherabassierDog，indeedprobablyabetterone，forsheknowsthingsbynature，havingneverbeentaught，whereasherrivalhasonlyreceivedanartificialeducation。
ItwouldbeinterestingtofollowtheSapromyzon’smanueuvres，buttheideastrikesmeasimpracticable。Theinsectisrare，fliesawayquicklyandissoonoutofsight。Toobserveitclosely，towatchitatworkwouldinvolveagreatlossoftimeandadegreeofassiduityofwhichIdonotfeelcapable。AnotherdiscovererofundergroundfungishallrevealwhattheFlycouldhardlybeexpectedtoshowus。
ThisisaprettylittleblackBeetle，withapaleandvelvetybelly，roundasacherrystoneandmuchthesamesize。Theinsect’sofficialtitleisBolbocerasgallicus，MULS。Byrubbingthetipofitsabdomenagainsttheedgeofitswing-casesitemitsasoftchirrupsimilartothatofthelittlebirdswhentheirmothercomeshomewiththeirfood。Themalewearsagracefulhornonhishead，copiedonasmallerscalefromthatoftheSpanishCopris。[note5]
Deceivedbythisarmour，IatfirsttooktheinsectforamemberoftheDung-beetles’corporationandbroughtitupassuchincaptivity。I
serveditwiththesestercoraldaintieswhicharemostappreciatedbyitspresumedcolleagues。Butnever，no，neverdiditconsenttotouchthem。
Fie，forshameDungtoaBolboceras！Well！WhatonearthdidItakehimfor？Theepicureexpectssomethingverydifferent。Hewantsnotexactlythetruffleofourbanquets，butitsequivalent。
Thischaracteristicwasnotdisplayedtomewithoutpatientinvestigationonmypart。AtthesouthernfootoftheSé；rignanhills，notfarfromthevillage，standsathicketofmaritimepines，alternatingwithrowsofcypress-trees。Here，attheseasonofAllSaints，aftertheautumnalrains，themushroomsaboundthatfrequenttheConiferæ；，inparticularthedeliciousmilk-mushroom，whichturnsgreenatanypartthatisbruisedandshedstearsofbloodwhenyoubreakit。[note6]Inthemilddaysofautumnthisisthefavouritewalkofmyhousehold，beingfarenoughtoexerciseyounglegsandnearenoughnottotirethem。
Theyfindeverythingthere:oldMagpies’nests，formedofbundlesoftwigs；Jayssquabblingwithoneanother，afterfillingtheircropswithacornsontheoakshardby；Rabbitssuddenlystartingoutofarosemary-bush，showingtheirlittlewhiteupturnedscuts；Geotrupes[note7]hoardingawayfoodforthewinterandheapinguptheirrubbishonthesand，softtothetouch，easytodigintotunnels，easytobuildinto，rowsofhutswhichwethatchwithmossandsurmountwithabitofreedbywayofachimney；andthedeliciouslunchoffanappletothesoundofthe&；Aelig；olianharpssoftlysighingthroughthepine-needles！
Yes，forthechildrenitisarealparadise，whereonegoesasarewardforwell-learntlessons。Thegrown-upsalsohavetheirshareofenjoyment。
AsfarasIamconcerned，Ihaveformanyyearsbeenwatchingtwoinsectshere，withoutsucceedingindiscoveringtheirfamilysecrets。OneofthemisMinotaurustyphæ；us，[note8]whosemalecarriesonhiscorseletthreespikespointinginfrontofhim。TheoldwritersusedtocallhimthePhalangist，becauseofhisarmour，whichmaybecomparedwiththethreelinesofspearsoftheMacedonianphalanx。
Heisarobustfellow，whocaresnothingforthewinter。Allthroughthecoldseason，whenevertheweatherturnsatriflemilder，heleaveshishousediscreetly，atnightfall，andgathers，intheimmediateneighbourhoodofhisburrow，afewSheep-droppings，ancient，olive-shapedremainsdriedbythesummersun。Heheapstheminastackatthebottomofhislarder，shutsthedoorandeats。Whentheprovisionsareallcrumbedanddrainedoftheirniggardlyjuices，heclimbsbacktothesurfaceandrenewshisstores。Thusdoeshespendthewinter，neverrestingfromhiswork，exceptwhentheweatheristoosevere。
Thesecondobjectofmyobservationsinthepine-woodistheBolboceras。
Hisburrows，distributedhereandthere，amongthoseoftheMinotaur，areeasilydistinguished。ThePhalangist’saresurmountedbyabulkymoundthematerialsofwhichareheapedintoacylinderaslongasone’sfinger。
Eachoftheserollsisaloadofrubbishpushedoutsidebythedigger，thrustingwithhisbackfrombelow。TheorificemoreoverisclosedwhenevertheBeetleisathome，eitherenlargingtheshaftorpeacefullyenjoyinghispossessions。
TheBolboceras’lodgingisopenandsurroundedmerelybyapaddingofsand。Itsdepthisslight，nineinches，hardlymore。Itgoesstraightdowninveryloosesoil。Itiseasilyinspected，therefore，ifwetakecarefirsttodigatrenchinfrontofit，whichwillenableuslatertocutawaytheperpendicularwall，slicebyslice，withthebladeofaknife。Theburrowthenappearsatfulllength，fromtoptobottom，inasemicylindricalshape。
Oftentheviolateddwelling-houseisempty。Theinsecthasleftduringthenight，havingfinisheditsbusinessthereandgonetosettleelsewhere。
TheBolbocerasisanomad，anight-walker，wholeaveshishomewithoutregretandeasilyacquiresanewone。Sometimesalsotheinsectisfoundatthebottomofthepit:atonetimeamale，atanotherafemale，butneverthetwoatatime。Thesexes，bothequallyzealousindiggingburrows，workseparately，nottogether。Thisisnot，infact，afamilyresidence，containingthenurseryoftheyoung；itisatemporaryabode，dugbyeachoccupantforhisowncomfort。
Sometimeswefindnothingtherebutthewell-sinker，surprisedduringhisworkofexcavation；sometimes，lastly——andthecaseisnotuncommon——thehermitofthecryptembraceswithhislegsasmallhypogeanfungus，eitherintactorpartlyconsumed。Heclutchesitconvulsively，refusestobepartedfromit。Itishisbooty，hisfortune，hisworldlygoods。Scatteredcrumbstellusthatwehavecaughthimfeasting。
Letustakehisprizeawayfromhim。Weshallseeasortofirregular，ruggedpurse，closedoneverysideandvaryinginsizebetweenapeaandacherry。Outsideitisreddish，roughwithlittlewarts；insideitissmoothandwhite。Thespores，whichareovoidanddiaphanous，arecontained，inrowsofeight，inlongsatchels。Bythesecharacteristicswerecognizeanundergroundcryptogamousproduct，nearlyrelatedtothetrufflesandknowntobotanistsasHydnocystisarenaria，TUL。
ThisthrowsalightuponthehabitsoftheBolbocerasanduponthereasonwhyhisburrowsaresofrequentlyrenewed。Inthecalmofthetwilight，thelittlegadabouttakestothefields，chirrupingsoftlyashegoes，cheeringhimselfwithsong。Heexploresthesoil，questionsitastoitscontents，justastheDogdoeswhenhuntingfortruffles。Hissenseofsmellwarnshimwhenthecovetedmorselisunderneath，coveredbyafewinchesofsand。Certainoftheexactspotwherethethinglies，hedigsstraightdownandneverfailstoreachit。Aslongastheprovisionslast，hedoesnotgooutagain。Blissfullyhefeedsatthebottomofthewell，heedlessofthedoorleftopenorhardlybarred。
Whennomorefoodremains，hemoves，lookingforanotherloaf，whichwillbecometheexcuseforafreshburrow，tobeabandonedinitsturn。
Eachfungusconsumedrepresentsanewhouse，whichisamererefectory，atraveller’srefreshment-room。Thusaretheautumnandspring，theseasonsofthehydnocystis，spentinthepleasuresofthetable，fromonehometothenext。
Tostudytherabassierinsectmoreclosely，inmyownhouse，Ishouldneedalittlestoreofitsfavouritefare。Itwouldbewasteoftimetoseekforitmyself，bydiggingatrandom:thelittlecryptogamisnotsoplentifulthatIcanhopetostrikeitwithmytrowelwithoutaguide。Thetruffle-hunterneedshisDog；myinformershallbetheBolbocerashimself。Beholdmeturnedintoarabassierofanewkind。Irevealmysecret，whichcanonlyraiseasmilefrommyoriginalinstructorinundergroundbotany，ifheshouldeverhearofmysingularformofcompetition。
Thesubterraneanfungioccuronlyatcertainpoints，ofteningroups。
NowtheBeetlehasbeenthisway；withhisdelicatescenthehasrecognizedthesiteasgood，fortheburrowsarenumeroushereabouts。Wewillthereforedigneartheholes。Theclueisaccurate。
Inafewhours，thankstothetracksleftbytheBolboceras，Ipossessahandfulofhydnocystes。ItsthefirsttimethatIhavegatheredthisparticularfungus。LetusnowcatchtheinsectThatpresentsnodifficulties:
wehaveonlytodiguptheburrows。
Imakemyexperimentsthesameevening，fillingalargeearthenpanwithfresh，siftedsand。Withastickasthickasmyfinger，Imakesixverticaltunnelsinthesand，twodecimetres[note9]deepandplacedatasuitabledistanceapart。Ahydnocystisisloweredtothebottomofeach；andIinsertafinestraw，toshowmetheexactpositionlater。Lastly，Ifillupthesixcavitieswithcakedsand。Whenthissurfacehasbeencarefullysmoothed，sothattheleveliseverywherethesame，exceptforthesixstraws，landmarksthatmeannothingtotheBolboceras，Iletloosemycaptives，coveringthemwithawire-gauzecage。Thereareeightofthem。
Atfirstthereisnothingtoseesavetheinevitableuneasinessduetotheincidentsoftheirexhumation，transportandconfinementinanunknownplace。Myexilesfromhometrytoescape，climbupthewire，burrowrightattheedgeoftheenclosure。Nightfallsandthingsgrowcalmer。Twohourslater，Icometotakealastlookatthem。Threearestillburiedunderathinlayerofsand。Thefiveothershaveeachdugaperpendicularshaftattheveryfootofthestrawswhichtellmewherethefungilie。Nextmorning，thesixthstrawhasitswellliketheothers。
Thisisthemomenttoseewhatishappeningunderground。Iremovethesandmethodicallyinverticalslices。AtthebottomofeachburrowisaBolboceraseatinghistruffle，thehydnocystis。
Letusrepeattheexperimentwiththepartly-consumedvictuals。Theresultisthesame。Atonebrief，nocturnalspellofwork，thedaintyisdiscoveredundergroundandreachedbymeansofagallerywhichrunsplumbtothespotwherethemorsellies。Thereisnohesitation，notrialexcavationguidedbyguesswork。Thisisprovedbythesurfaceofthesoil，whicheverywhereisjustasIleftitwhenIsmootheditdown。Theinsectcouldnothavemadestraighterforthecovetedobjecthaditbeenguidedbysight；italwaysdigsatthefootofthestraws，mysign-posts。TheDog，nosingthegroundfortruffles，hardlyachievesthisdegreeofprecision。
Hasthehydnocystisthenaverypungentsmell，abletogivesuchpositiveinformationtoitsconsumer’sscent？Notatall。Toournostrilsitisaneutralobject，devoidofanyappreciableolfactorycharacter。Atinypebbletakenoutofthegroundwouldimpressusjustasmuchwithitsfaintaromaoffreshearth。Asarevealerofundergroundfungousproducts，theBolbocerashererivalstheDog。HewouldevenrisesuperiortotheDog，wereheabletogeneralize。Butheisarigorousspecialist:heknowsonlythehydnocystis。Nothingelse，sofarasIamaware，temptshimtodig。[note10]
Bothofthemsearchthesubsoilveryclosely，attheleveloftheground；
andtheobjectwhichtheyseekisnotfardown。Weretheyfartheraway，neithertheDognortheinsectwouldnoticeeffluviasosubtle，noteventhesmellofatruffle。Tomakeanimpressionatagreatdistance，powerfulodoursareneeded，capableofperceptionbyourolfactorysense。Thentheexploitersoftheodorousthingcomehasteninguponallsidesfromafar。
When，forthepurposeofmystudies，Irequireinsectsthatdissectcorpses，IexposeadeadMoleinthesun，inadistantcorneroftheenclosure。
Assoonastheanimalswells，distendedbythegasesofputrefaction，andtheskinbeginstoturngreenandthefurtofallfromit，upcomenumbersofSilphæ；[note11]andDermestes，[note12][note]Necrophori[note13][note]andotherBurying-beetles，ofwhomonewouldfindnotasinglespecimeninthegarden，orevenintheneighbourhood，withoutthisbait。