THE PURSUIT.
See page 158.
THE INSECT
BY
JULES MICHELET.
WITH 140 ILLUSTRATIONS BY GIACOMELLI,
ILLUSTRATOR OF "THE BIRD."
LONDON:
T. NELSON AND SONS, PATERNOSTER ROW;
EDINBURGH; AND NEW YORK.
1875.
The Insect" is one of the four remarkable works in which the lateM. Michelet embodied the results of a loving and persevering studyof Nature. These works are absolutely unique; the poetry ofScience was never before illustrated on so large a scale, or with somuch vividness of fancy, or in so eloquent a style. The aspects ofNature were never before examined with so strong an enthusiasm or so definitean individuality,—with so eager a desire to identify them with the feelings,hopes, and aspirations of humanity. Michelet approached his subject neitheras philosopher nor as poet, but yet with something of the spirit of both. Hisphilosophy and poetry, however, were both subordinate to his ardent sympathywith what he conceived to be the soul, the personality of Nature; and whetherhis attention was directed to the life of ocean, the bird, the insect, or themountain-plant, he still sought for some evidence of its special and distinctexistence, with thoughts and emotions, as it were, and a character of its own.It was almost as if he saw in Nature a likeness to, and a kinship with,humanity. No doubt, in expressing these views he was occasionally led intoa certain extravagance, and his enthusiasm not infrequently outran or overmasteredhis judgment. He lacked the profound insight and sober reflectionof Wordsworth, and accuracy of detail was often sacrificed for the sake of abrilliant generalization. But, after making due allowance for defects inseparable,perhaps, from a genius rather passionate and impulsive than analytic andself-composed, it must be admitted that the lover of Nature has cause to begrateful for the fine fancies, rich illustrations, and suggestive analogies crowdedinto the books we speak of.
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