472 INSTINCT OF INSECTS. 



After these observations on the nature of instinct, 

 generally, I pass on to contrast in several particulars 

 the instincts of insects with those of other animals ; and 

 thus to bring' together some remarkable instances of 

 the former which have not hitherto been laid before 

 you, as well as to deduce from some of those already 

 related, inferences to which it did not fall in with ray 

 design before to direct your attention. This contrast 

 may be conveniently made under the three heads of — 

 the exquisiteness of their instincts — their number — and 

 their extraordinary development. 



The instincts of by far the majority of the superior 

 animals are of a very simple kind, only directing them 

 to select suitable food ; to propagate their species ; to 

 defend themselves and their young from harm ; to eX" 

 press their sensations by various vocal modulations ; 

 and to a few other actions which need not be particu- 

 larized. Others of the larger animals, in addition to 

 these simpler instinctive propensities, are gifted with 

 more extensive powers ; storing up food for their win- 

 ter consumption, and building nests or habitations for 

 their young, which they carefully feed and tend. 



All these instincts are common to insects, a great 

 proportion of which are in like manner confined to these. 

 But a very considerable number of this class are en- 

 dowed with instincts of an exquisiteness to which the 

 higher animals can lay no claim. What bird or fish, 

 for example, catches its prey by means of nets as art- 

 fully woven and as admirably adapted to their pur- 

 poses as any that ever fisherman or fowler fabricated? 

 Yet such nets are constructed by the race of spiders. 

 What beast of prey thinks of digging a pit-fall in the 



