LOCAL AND SPECIFIC VARIETIES OF INSTINCT. 245 



found to build under stones, while in the Alps it frequently 

 builds under the same stones as the Myrmica. 



With regard to Bees, it appears that both in Australia 

 and California, the hive-bees when introduced " retain their 

 industrious habits only for the first two or three years. After 

 that time they gradually cease to collect honey till they 

 become wholly idle."* Again, Mr. Packard, jun., records 

 some observations! which were made by the Bev. L. Thomp- 

 son, whom he designates " a careful observer," of bees (Ajris 

 mdlifica) eating moths which were entrapped in certain 

 flowers. On the fact being communicated to Mr. Darwin, he 

 wrote, that he " had never heard of bees being in any way 

 carnivorous, and the fact is to me incredible. Is it possible 

 that the bees opened the bodies of the Plusia to suck the 

 nectar contained in their bodies ? Such a degree of reason 

 would require confirmation, and would be very wonderful." 

 But whatever the object of the bees may have been, their 

 actions, which are described as "suddenly darting" and 

 " furious," certainly display some marked variation of instinct 

 under the guidance of intelligence. Moreover, the explana- 

 tion entertained by Messrs. Thompson and Packard — viz., 

 that the bees were partly carnivorous, is perhaps not so 

 " incredible " as it appeared to Mr. Darwin, if we remember 

 that wasps are unquestionably apt to develop carnivorous 

 tastes.J 



Turning now to local variations of instinct in Birds, I 

 may first allude to the following instances in the Appendix, 

 which although not adduced in this connection by Mr. 

 Darwin, are no less apposite to it. 



"It is notorious that the same species of bird has slightly 

 different vocal powers in different districts; and an excellent 

 observer remarks, 'an Irish covey of partridges springs with- 

 out uttering a call, whilst on the opposite coast the Scotch 

 covey shrieks with all its might when sprung.'§ Bechstein 

 says that from many years' experience he is certain that in 



• Animal TnttXUgenw, p, 188, where tee f<>r referenoM to Dr. E. Darwin, 

 Kirbj mid Spence, and later writora on thii matter. 



f Am eri can Naturalist, Jim. 1880. 



X Bee, <•// , Watwre, v. .1 . wi. pp, 117, lilt, 538, and . r >f;u, detailing obscr- 

 rationi <>f the tact i>v sir l>. Wedderburn, Bleura. Newall, K.K.s., Lewie 

 Bod, and W. (}. Smith. 



§ W. Thompson, in Nat. Hut. Inland, toL ii, p G5, eajs lie naiohterred 

 tin*, and that a 1- well known to iportemen. 



