法国昆虫学家法布尔生平与昆虫研究贡献概述.pdfVIP

Jean-HenriFabre

Biography

Jean-HenriCasimirFabre(December22,1823–October11,1915)was

aFrenchentomologist,andauthorknownforthelivelystyleofhispopularbookson

thelivesofinsects.

Fabrewasborninapoorfamily.Neverthes,heacquiredaprimaryteaching

certificateattheyoungageof19andbeganteachinginCarpentraswhilstpursuing

furtherstudies.In1849hewasappointedtoateachingpostinAjaccio(Corsica),then

in1853movedontothelycéeinAvignon.

Fabrewasapopularteacher,physicist,chemistandbotanist.However,heisprobably

bestknownforhisfindingsinthefieldofentomology,thestudyofinsects,andis

consideredbymanytobethefatherofmodernentomology.Muchofhisenduring

popularityisduetohismarvelousteachingabilityandhismannerofwritingaboutthe

livesofinsectsinbiographicalform.Indoingsohecombinedwhathecalledmy

passionforscientifictruthwithkeenobservationsandanengaging,colloquialstyle

ofwriting.Fabrewrote:

Othersagainhavereproachedmewithmystyle,whichhasnotthe

solemnity,nay,ter,thedrynessoftheschools.Theytapage

thatisreadwithoutfatigueshouldnotalwaysbetheexpressionofthe

truth.WereItotaketheirwordforit,weareprofoundonlyon

conditionofbeingobscure.

HisSouvenirsEntomologiquesisaseriesoftextsoninsectsandarachnids.He

influencedthelaterwritingsofCharDarwin,whocalledFabreaninimitable

observer.

Fabre,however,wasaChristianwhoremainedscepticalaboutDarwinstheoryof

evolution,ashealwaysheldbackfromalltheoriesandsystems.Hisspecialforcewas

exactanddetailedobservation,fieldresearch,alwaysavoidinggeneral