INSTINCT OF INSECTS. 471 



explain in this way the instincts connected with hun- 

 ger and the sexual passion, and some other particular 

 facts, as the laying of the eggs of the flesh-fly in the 

 flowers of Stapelin hirsuta, instead of in carrion their 

 proper nidus, and of those of the common house-fly in 

 snuff* instead of dung;: for in these instances the smell 

 seems so clearly the guide, that it even leads into error. 

 But what connexion between sensation and instinct do 

 we see in the conduct of the working-bees, which fabri- 

 cate some of the cells in a comb larger than others, ex- 

 pressly to contain the eggs and future grubs of drones, 

 though these eggs are not laid by themselves, and are 

 still in the ovaries of the queen ? So, we may plau- 

 sibly enough conjecture that the fury with which, in 

 ordinary circumstances, at a certain period of the year, 

 the working-bees are inspired towards the drones, is 

 the effect of some disagreeable smell or emanation pro- 

 ceeding from them at tliat particular time : but how 

 can we explain on similar grounds, the fact that in a 

 hive deprived of a queen, no massacre of the drones 

 takes place ? Lastly, to omit here a hundred other 

 instances, as many of them will be subsequently ad- 

 verted to, if we may with some show of reason sup- 

 pose that it is the sensation of heat which causes bees 

 to swarm ; yet what possible conception can we form 

 of its being bodily sensations that lead bees to send out 

 scouts in search of a hive suitable for tjie new colony, 

 several days before swarming? 



• Dr. Zinke genannt Soinmer says, that if in August and September a 

 snuff-box be left open, it will be seen to be frequented by tbe common 

 bouse-fly {Musca domcHlka), the eggs of which will be found to have been 

 deposited amongst tbe fnuff. Germar Mag. der Ent. I, ii. 189. 



