[Monsieur Sylvestre Bonnard was not aware that several very illustrious naturalists were making researches at the same time as he in regard to the relation between insects and plants.He was not acquainted with the labours of Darwin, with those of Dr.Hermann Muller, nor with the observations of Sir John Lubbock.It is worthy of note that the conclusions of Monsieur Sylvestre Bonnard are very nearly similar to those reached by the three scientists above mentioned.Less important, but perhaps equally interesting, is the fact that Sir John Lubbock is, like Monsieur Bonnard, an archaeologist who began to devote himself only late in life to the natural sciences.--Note by the French Editor.]
Brolles! My house is the last one you pass in the single street of the village, as you go to the woods.It is a gabled house with a slate roof, which takes iridescent tints in the sun like a pigeon's breast.The weather-vane above that roof has won more consideration for me among the country people than all my works upon history and philology.There is not a single child who does not know Monsieur Bonnard's weather-vane.It is rusty, and squeaks very sharply in the wind.Sometimes it refuses to do any work at all--just like Therese, who now allows herself to be assisted by a young peasant girl--though she grumbles a good deal about it.The house is not large, but I am very comfortable in it.My room has two windows, and gets the sun in the morning.The children's room is upstairs.