Hailed by Darwin as The Homer of Insects, famed French entomologist Jean Henri Fabre (1823-1915) devoted hours of rapt attention to insects while they hunted, built nests, and fed their families. Working in Provence, in barren, sun-scorched fields inhabited by countless wasps and bees, he observed their intricate and fascinating world, recounting their activities in simple, beautifully written essays.
This volume, based on translations of Fabre's Souvenirs Entomologiques, blends folklore and mythology with factual explanation. Fabre's absorbing account of the scarab beetle's existence, for example, begins with the ancient Egyptians' symbolic view of this busy creature, eventually leading to a careful discussion of its characteristic method of rolling a carefully sculpted ball of food to its den. Elsewhere, he discusses with infectious enthusiasm the physiologic secrets behind the luminosity of fireflies, the musical talents of the locust, the comfortable home of the field cricket, and the cannibalism of the pious-looking praying mantis, among other topics.
These charmingly related stories of insect life are a rare combination of scientific study and literary classic that will delight entomologists, naturalists, and nature lovers alike.

The wonders of plant and animal life told with rare literary charm by Uncle Paul in conversations with three children. Besides such stories as the ants' subterranean city, the spider's suspension bridge, and the caterpillars' processing, he unlocks the mystery behind thunder and lightning, clouds and rain, the year and its seasons, and volcanoes and earthquakes. Suitable for ages 9 to 12.

Starting with a mixture of iron filings and sulphur, Uncle Paul awakens in his young nephews an eagerness to learn more about the properties of the elements. Through a series of carefully-devised experiments and conversations about the experiments, he leads the boys to an understanding of some of the basic principles of chemistry. Excellent as a follow-on to The Story Book of Science and The Secret of Everyday Things by the same author. Suitable for ages 11 and up.

Originally published in 1917, The Story Book of Science is a detailed children's story book about nature. Uncle Paul teaches his niece and nephews about nature with a passion and zeal rarely seen in science books. Each of the 80 chapters in the book illustrates some new truth about nature from a godly perspective, and serves as a launching pad for interesting discussions. Uncle Paul relates things in ways that are easy to picture. Children will learn how many balls the size of the earth it would take to fill the sun (if it were hollow), that volcanic orifices have safety valves which help to prevent disastrous earthquakes, and how ants milk their own cows. They will also learn how to tell some poisonous mushrooms from others, how pearls are made, how to remove venom from bites, and much more. The units of measure in this book are a little antiquated, and the vocabulary can be challenging at times. However, the context of The Story Book of Science always makes the lessons so clear that younger children can still enjoy it. The story form of the book, with the children asking questions and marveling alongside Uncle Paul, combined with interesting information make The Story Book of Science accessible to a wide range of ages. The science itself is amazingly accurate. There is even a discussion about relative motion on trains, which actually didn't have a theory until Einstein. The Story Book of Science was written by Jean Henri Fabre, whose infectious enthusiasm and animated, genuine interest in nature as made by God, makes it well worth the reading. The literary charm of the book, coupled with stories of the ants' subterranean city, the spider's suspension bridge, the mystery behind thunder and lightning, the year and its seasons, and much more, make The Story Book of Science a classic that will be enjoyed by children for years to come.

Jean Henri Fabre reveals the wondrous nature of items we use and encounter daily, explaining how such things commonly taken for granted are fascinating and intricate.

Everyday things encountered in nature and at home carry many fascinating properties, from foodstuffs to common creatures to the physics behind light and heat. Simple tools like the needle and thread, or the dyes in clothing, or the usual methods of cookery are revealed as the result of many years of human effort; the chemical and physical processes behind so many inventions we consider ordinary or benign are anything but.

As an entomologist who studied nature and insects, Fabre goes on to keenly explain how small creatures in nature fulfil many roles. The various foods - chocolate, coffee, olive oil - are shown to have important properties and origins. Weather such as rain and snow, and the forces and phenomena of physics - light and sound - are also visited. A common theme throughout this work is the vivid and engaging style of the author; a capable explainer who wrote many books, Fabre brings life and fascination to objects and topics that would otherwise be thought mundane.

Listen along with Jules and Emile as Uncle Paul uncovers the mysteries of chemistry.

Readers familiar with Jules and Emile (The Storybook of Science) will welcome the chance to eavesdrop on their conversations with Uncle Paul, who makes even the most difficult of concepts easy to grasp with his stories and experiments.

First published in 1922 this release features all the original illustrations and the complete unabridged text.

Listen along as Uncle Paul converses with his three children, teaching them all about the world around us. Share the story of ants' underground city, the spider's suspension bridge, the caterpillars' metamorphasis. Unlock the mystery behind thunder, lightning, clouds, rain, the year and seasons, volcano's and earthquakes and much more.

Fabre was a popular teacher, physicist, chemist, and botanist, but is probably best knows for his findings in entomology (the study of insects). His writing about the lives of insects in biographical form is part of his enduring popularity.

This edition features all the original illustrations restored for modern printing along with easily readable text.

Fascinating conversations with Uncle Paul reveal the mysteries behind the dyeing and weaving of cloth, the lighting and heating of homes, the processing involved in bringing oil, coffee, tea, spices, and other foodstuffs to the table, and the power of water in all its manifestations. Excellent as follow-on to The Story Book of Science. Numerous black and white illustrations complement the text. Suitable for ages 11 and up.

The Spider has a bad name: to most of us, she represents an odious, noxious animal, which every one hastens to crush under foot. Against this summary verdict the observer sets the beast's industry, its talent as a weaver, its wiliness in the chase, its tragic nuptials and other characteristics of great interest. Yes, the Spider is well worth studying, apart from any scientific reasons; but she is said to be poisonous and that is her crime and the primary cause of the repugnance wherewith she inspires us. Poisonous, I agree, if by that we understand that the animal is armed with two fangs which cause the immediate death of the little victims which it catches; but there is a wide difference between killing a Midge and harming a man. However immediate in its effects upon the insect entangled in the fatal web, the Spider's poison is not serious for us and causes less inconvenience than a Gnat-bite. That, at least, is what we can safely say as regards the great majority of the Spiders of our regions.

2019 Reprint of 1918 Edition. Profusely iilustrated. Full facsimile of the original edition, not reproduced with Optical Recognition software. The famed French naturalist Fabre covers a large variety of subjects in these 80 short but fascinating essays about insects, animals and nature in general. The translator explains in her foreword, The young in heart and the pure in heart of whatever age will find themselves drawn to this incomparable story-teller, this reverent reveler of the awe-inspiring secrets of nature. The identity of the Uncle Paul, who in this book and others of the series plays the story-teller's part, is not hard to guess; and the young people who gather about him to listen to his true stories from wood and field, from brook and hilltop, from distant ocean and adjacent millpond, are, without doubt, the author's own children, in whose companionship he delighted and whose education he conducted with wise solicitude.

J. Henri Fabre's Insect Adventures invites readers into a captivating world of small creatures and their remarkable lives. The narrative explores the lives, behaviors, and intricacies of insects through a series of engaging and insightful tales. Set against the backdrop of the natural world, the stories within the book offer a glimpse into the fascinating behaviors and habits of insects such as ants, bees, and beetles. Through Fabre's detailed observations and storytelling, readers gain a deeper understanding of the complex and often surprising lives of these tiny creatures. The novel delves into themes of curiosity, scientific discovery, and the interconnectedness of all living beings. As Fabre shares his experiences and insights, readers are inspired to view the insect world with new appreciation and to recognize the vital roles insects play in the ecosystem. Insect Adventures captures the spirit of exploration and scientific inquiry. J. Henri Fabre's storytelling immerses readers in the wonders of nature, offering a unique perspective on the insect kingdom and the intricate relationships that shape the natural world.

Few insects in our climes vie in popular fame with the Glow-worm, that curious little animal which, to celebrate the little joys of life, kindles a beacon at its tail-end. Who does not know it, at least by name? Who has not seen it roam amid the grass, like a spark fallen from the moon at its full? The Greeks of old called it Greek: lampouris], meaning, the bright-tailed. Science employs the same term: it calls the lantern-bearer, Lampyris noctiluca, LIN. In this case, the common name is inferior to the scientific phrase, which, when translated, becomes both expressive and accurate.

Fame is the daughter of Legend. In the world of creatures, as in the world of men, the story precedes and outlives history. There are many instances of the fact that if an insect attract our attention for this reason or that, it is given a place in those legends of the people whose last care is truth. For example, who is there that does not, at least by hearsay, know the Cigale? Where in the entomological world shall we find a more famous reputation? Her fame as an impassioned singer, careless of the future, was the subject of our earliest lessons in repetition. In short, easily remembered lines of verse, we learned how she was destitute when the winter winds arrived, and how she went begging for food to the Ant, her neighbour.

This is what I wished for, hoc erat in votis: a bit of land, oh, not so very large, but fenced in, to avoid the drawbacks of a public way; an abandoned, barren, sun scorched bit of land, favored by thistles and by wasps and bees. Here, without fear of being troubled by the passersby, I could consult the Ammophila and the Sphex two digger or hunting wasps] and engage in that difficult conversation whose questions and answers have experiment for their language; here, without distant expeditions that take up my time, without tiring rambles that strain my nerves, I could contrive my plans of attack, lay my ambushes and watch their effects at every hour of the day. Hoc erat in votis.

Listen along with Jules and Emile as Uncle Paul uncovers the mysteries of chemistry.

Readers familiar with Jules and Emile (The Storybook of Science) will welcome the chance to eavesdrop on their conversations with Uncle Paul, who makes even the most difficult of concepts easy to grasp with his stories and experiments.

First published in 1922 this release features all the original illustrations and the complete unabridged text.

The Life of the Caterpillar, has been acknowledged as a major work throughout human history, and we have taken precautions to assure its preservation by republishing this book in a modern manner for both present and future generations. This book has been completely retyped, revised, and reformatted. The text is readable and clear because these books are not created from scanned copies.

The Story-Book of Science, written by Jean-Henri Fabre, is a charming and educational book that introduces readers to the wonders of the natural world. The book is structured as a series of stories, each of which explores a different scientific concept. From the life cycle of the butterfly to the formation of crystals, Fabre weaves together fascinating tales that teach readers about the natural world and how it works. Fabre's writing is infused with a sense of wonder and curiosity that encourages readers to see the world around them in a new light. He was a renowned French entomologist and naturalist who spent much of his life studying insects and their behavior. This expertise is evident in the detailed and insightful descriptions of the creatures and phenomena that he writes about. The book has engaging stories and accessible language making it an ideal book for parents and educators looking to inspire a love of science in young readers.

The peasant, as he trims his hedge, whose riotous tangle threatens to encroach upon the road, cuts the trailing stems of the bramble a foot or two from the ground and leaves the root-stock, which soon dries up. These bramble-stumps, sheltered and protected by the thorny brushwood, are in great demand among a host of Hymenoptera who have families to settle.

The Lycosa, or Spider, is thought to be venomous, which is both her transgression and the main source of our inspiration for abhorrence. These homes are pits that are about a foot deep, first perpendicular, and subsequently bent elbow-wise. A curb made of straw, various pieces and scraps, and even tiny stones the size of hazelnuts is present on the side of the pit. Michelet (number 23) has described to us how he made friends with a Spider while working as a printer's apprentice in a cellar. As March draws to a close, the young people's exodus from the community starts. One of the gourd family plants, sometimes known as the squirting cucumber, thrives amidst the roadside trash. When fully mature, the seeds float in a liquid that was formerly the meaty core. One of man's clever nefarious inventions is the fowling-snare. To the right and left of a barren area, two sizable earthen coloured nets are spread out on the ground. They are pushed together like a pair of shutters by a long string that the fowler pulls at precisely the appropriate time. The Epeira's skill is unaffected by age in any fundamental way; as the young worked, so do the elderly, wealthier with an additional year of experience. An Epeira is sitting still on her suspension rope after weaving her web.

La Vie des Insectes: Morceaux Choisis de J.-H. Fabre est une sélection d'extraits tirés des Souvenirs Entomologiques, l'oeuvre majeure de Fabre où il documente ses observations et expériences sur le comportement des insectes. Ce recueil présente les aspects les plus captivants de la vie des insectes, tels que perçus et décrits par l'un des entomologistes les plus renommés du XIXe siècle. Fabre offre des descriptions précises et vivantes des insectes qu'il a étudiés. Ses observations couvrent une large gamme d'espèces, des scarabées aux abeilles, en passant par les araignées et les chenilles. Chaque description est riche en détails sur les habitudes, les cycles de vie et les comportements de ces créatures. Les extraits mettent en lumière les comportements fascinants des insectes, tels que la chasse, la reproduction, la construction de nids et la stratégie de survie. Fabre explique comment ces comportements sont adaptés à l'environnement et contribuent à la survie des espèces. Fabre n'est pas seulement un scientifique, mais aussi un écrivain talentueux. Son style est à la fois poétique et précis, rendant ses descriptions accessibles et captivantes pour un large public. Il utilise des anecdotes et des récits personnels pour illustrer ses points, ce qui rend la lecture agréable et instructive. Fabre est un pionnier dans l'utilisation de l'observation directe et des expériences pour étudier le comportement des insectes. Il évite les spéculations non fondées, préférant baser ses conclusions sur des données empiriques rigoureuses. Cette méthode scientifique rigoureuse est une des raisons pour lesquelles son travail est encore respecté aujourd'hui. L'oeuvre de Fabre a eu une influence durable sur la science de l'entomologie. Ses écrits ont également inspiré de nombreux écrivains et poètes, qui ont trouvé dans ses descriptions de la nature une source d'inspiration et de réflexion sur la condition humaine. Cet ouvrage est une excellente ressource pour les étudiants en biol