PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 215 



redeemed my pledge, when I taught you to expect that 

 this history would exceed in interest and variety and 

 marvellous results every thing that 1 had before related 

 to you. I trust, moreover, diat you will scarcely feel 

 disposed to subscribe to that opinion, though it has the 

 sanction of some great names, which attributes these 

 almost miraculous instincts to mere sensation ; which 

 tells us, that their sensorium is so modelled with re- 

 spect to the different operations that are given them in 

 charge, that it is by the attraction of pleasure alone 

 that they are determined to the execution of them ; 

 and that, as every circumstance relative to the succes- 

 sion of their different labours is pre-ordained, to each of 

 them an agreeable sensation is affixed by the Creator: 

 and that thus, when the bees build their cells ; when 

 they sedulously attend to the young brood ; when they 

 collect provisions ; this is the result of no plans, of no 

 affection, of no foresight; but that the sole determining 

 motive is the enjoyment of an agreeable sensation at- 

 tached to each of these operations''. Surely it would 

 be better to resolve all their proceedings at once into 

 a direct impulse from the Creator, than to maintain a 

 theory so contrary to fact; and which militates against 

 the whole history which M. Huber, who adopts this 

 theory from Bonnet, has so ably given of these crea- 

 tures. That they may experience agreeable sensations 

 from their various employments, nobody will deny ; but 

 that such sensations instruct them how to perform their 

 several operations, without any plan previously im>p 

 pressed upon their sensorium, is contrary both to rea 

 son and experience. They have a plan, it is evident; 



^ IIubcr,i.313. 



