56 BRITISH BEES. 



disclosed bee, without other teaching than that of the 

 intuitive faculty, where to find its food, and how to 

 build its abode. It directs it to the satisfying its ma- 

 terial needs, and instructs it to provide for its offspring, 

 and to protect them whilst in their nidus; the impulse 

 to which follows immediately upon the satisfaction of 

 the sexual desire, to which it is the seal. 



If it be memory that guides the bee from its wide 

 wanderings back to its home, this then becomes an at- 

 tribute to the faculty. Instinct indicates to them their 

 enemies, and the wrongs these may intend, and sho\vs 

 them how they may be repulsed or evaded. In some of 

 its operations it seems to be of a more perfect capacity 

 than the operative faculty of human intelligence. 



The senses evidently possessed by our insects are 

 sight, feeling, taste, and smell, but whether they hear we 

 cannot know, although the antennse have been supposed 

 to be its organ, for the apparent responsiveness of these 

 to loud and sudden sounds, may equally result from the 

 agitations of the air these produce. Their possession of 

 touch, taste, and smell, are implied from what has been 

 observed. 



They certainly exercise a will, evinced by their power 

 of discrimination, which decides what is salutary and 

 what is noxious; and the passions are exemplified in 

 their revenge, their sexual love, and their affection for 

 their offspring, the latter being exhibited in their un- 

 remitting labour and careful provision for them, although 

 they are never to see them. If there be any precedence 

 in the order of the relative quality and distinction of the 

 bees, it will be shown in the degree of superiority with 

 which this function is accomplished. The perfection of 

 this function we see progressively maturing as it passes 



