xX PREFACE 
scribe the combats in which they en- 
gage. 
In the course of this work, several 
questions are discussed that may appear 
bold to those who do not_see in insects 
any thing but organized machines, but 
they will not astonish the Naturalist, ac- 
customed to distrust his own opinions. 
There are few individuals who have not 
perceived how absurd is the supposition 
of a blind instinct, and for some time 
past we have granted to animals, at least 
so it to me appears, a greater degree of 
knowledge than formerly. 
If we reflect a moment on the compli- 
cated nature of that mechanism, we must 
put in place of a spark of that light 
in which we all participate, to enable it 
to accommodate itself to circumstances, 
to provide for the several necessities of a 
numerous colony, and to direct a multi- 
tude of springs in such a manner as to 
concur in the same end, we shall be 
tempted to prefer an hypothesis the most 
simple,—that which accords to insects a 
17 
