I'ACKAUD.] MENTAL POWERS OF INSECTS. 353 



13» BJental J^awers at Jns^tis. 



IT is almost invariably the case that those who have 

 closely observed and recorded the habits of animals, 

 nenrl}' always express their surprise at the high degree 

 of intelligence exhibited by them, and do not hesitate to 

 state their opinion that animals are provided with some 

 degree of reasoning power ; while others, still more confi- 

 dent, declare that this intelligence differs only in degree 

 from that of man himself. The works of DeGeer, Reaumur, 

 Huber, Bonnet, and of later eminent observers of the habits 

 of insects, express the view that they exhibit more or less 

 of a reasoning power. 



On the other hand there are many, generally those who 

 have not personally observed the doings of animals, and are 

 biassed by considerations to which it is needless here to 

 allude, who are very strong in the faith, for it is not with 

 them a matter of observation or experiment, that animals 

 act simply by "blind instinct," that they are machines, 

 automata. When asked how animals sometimes act in a 

 manner so akin to that of man, the only reasoning beino-, 

 according to their view, in existence, the}' answer that they 

 are taught by Divine Power. This with them Is the end 

 of the matter, except that they seem indignant that any 

 lower animal should for a moment be regarded as in any way 

 allied to themselves ; as if the intellectual and moral standino- 

 of man is at all compromised by allowing that the animals 

 possess intelligence, and at periods act as if influenced by 

 reason. 



We have no controversy with those who believe that the 

 instincts of animals have been implanted by the Creator, 

 as we are of the same opinion. The question simply is, 

 23 1 



