Aberrations of Instinct 



What are we to conclude from these 

 facts? I would fain believe, for the sake 

 of my insects' reputation, in some distrac- 

 tion on their part, in some individual giddi- 

 ness which would not taint the general per- 

 spicacity; I should like to regard their aber- 

 rations merely as isolated and exceptional 

 actions, which would not affect their judg- 

 ment as a whole. Alas, a long series of 

 glaring facts would impose silence on my 

 attempts at rehabilitation! Any species, 

 no matter which, when subjected to experi- 

 mental tests, is guilty of similar inconsis- 

 tencies in the course of its disturbed in- 

 dustry. Constrained by the inexorable 

 logic of the facts, I therefore state the de- 

 ductions suggested by observation as fol- 

 lows: the insect is neither free nor conscious 

 in its industry, which in its case is an ex- 

 ternal function with phases regulated al- 

 most as strictly as the phases of an inter- 

 nal function, such as digestion. It builds, 

 weaves, hunts, stabs and paralyses, even as 

 it digests, even as it secretes the poison of 

 its sting, the silk of its cocoon or the wax of 

 its combs, always without the least under- 

 standing of the means or the end. It is 

 ignorant of its wonderful talents just as the 



stomach is ignorant of its skilful chemistry. 

 129 



