The life of Jean Henri Fabre, the entomologist, 1823-1910

THE LIFE OF JEAN HENRI FABRE
BOOKS BY J. HENRI FABRE
BY THE ABBE AUGUSTIN FABRE TRANSLATED BY Bernard Miall
NEW YORK DODD, MEAD AND COMPANY 1921
Copyright 1921 By DODD, MEAD AND COMPANY, Inc.
PRINTED IN THE U. S. A. BY The Quinn & Boden Company BOOK MANUFACTURERS RAHWAY NEW JERSEY
TO MY PARENTS
Those who wish to become more fully acquainted with Jean-Henri Fabre’s delightful Souvenirs Entomologiques will find them, arranged in a different order, in the admirable series of translations from the pen of Mr. Teixeira de Mattos, published by Messrs. Dodd, Mead & Company, New York; a series which will, before long, be complete and contain the whole of the ten volumes of Souvenirs . Other translations are The Life and Love of the Insect , translated by Mr. Teixeira de Mattos; Social Life in the Insect World , translated by myself; Wonders of Instinct , translated by Mr. Teixeira and myself; and Fabre, Poet of Science (another biography), by Dr. G. V. Legros, translated by myself.
Post-war conditions have made it necessary somewhat to abridge the author’s text, which fills two volumes. If, however, as I hope, these pages send the reader to my friend Mr. Teixeira’s delightful versions of the Souvenirs , their principal aim will be fulfilled.
Bernard Miall.
I was eighteen years old; I was dreaming of diplomas, of a doctor’s degree, of a brilliant university career. To encourage me and incite me to emulation, one of my uncles, rather more well-informed than those about him, addressed me much as follows:
“Put your back into it, my boy! Go ahead; follow the footsteps of your fellow-countryman and kinsman, Henri Fabre of Malaval, who has done what you want to do, and has become an eminent professor and a learned writer.”