[The Wonders of Instinct by J. H. Fabre]@TWC D-Link bookThe Wonders of Instinct CHAPTER 2 7/27
A cork fixed to a wire served as a hammer. Imagine an unskilled hand striking at random on this key-board, with a sudden clash of octaves, dissonances and topsy-turvy chords; and you will have a pretty clear idea of the Toads' litany. As a song, this litany has neither head nor tail to it; as a collection of pure sounds, it is delicious.
This is the case with all the music in nature's concerts.
Our ear discovers superb notes in it and then becomes refined and acquires, outside the realities of sound, that sense of order which is the first condition of beauty. Now this sweet ringing of bells between hiding-place and hiding-place is the matrimonial oratorio, the discreet summons which every Jack issues to his Jill.
The sequel to the concert may be guessed without further enquiry; but what it would be impossible to foresee is the strange finale of the wedding.
Behold the father, in this case a real paterfamilias, in the noblest sense of the word, coming out of his retreat one day in an unrecognizable state.
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