liberty, instead of making for the hive, the window, or the 

 luminous object, fell immediately to the ground, which 

 proves, undoubtedly, both that in ordinary circumstances 

 an impression is made upon the retina, and that in conse- 

 quence of that impression, the particular act of flying to the . 

 window or the hive takes place. Well ! but this is sight I 

 on the contrary, it is even far from probable that the 

 possession of sight with intelligence, which is what we 

 understand by this word, can be legitimately inferred ; 

 for after all that we are ready to admit, and which indeed 

 is quite undeniable, can we come to the certain conclusion 

 that an insect sees, but by attending to the action which 

 sight determines ? by watching what follows, and is taken 

 by every one as the result of sight ? But who, you will 

 interrupt me, yet ever doubted that a bee sees ? we find 

 him in possession of eyes ; we observe him to go where he 

 lists, and to return unerringly to his home. Nothing 

 seems clearer ! but if you adopt this conclusion you will 

 have to proceed a great deal further before you stop, and 

 make your bee more accomplished than you probably 

 intend ' You cannot disallow that if the bee's flight is 

 directed by vision, it must also be regulated, as to its ex- 

 lent or velocity, by will : follow him awhile in those mazy, 

 giddy, gyrations ! now buzzing about your nose, now out 

 of sight in the blue heaven, loitering over this flower or 

 reposing upon that, to say nothing of courtship, or com- 

 panionship when he finds a better tap than common ! 

 But, however well amused, the bee must intend to return, 

 that is, must note time must mark the progress of the 

 evening shadows and say to himself, it is time to go 

 home ! At the very moment of going forth he must pro- 

 pose to return to the hive ; and even where that domicile 

 of his household gods remains in sight, he must, in order 

 to return, exercise a will, founded as all volition must be, 

 upon comparison, and a judgment in consequence ! But 

 place him out of si\t of his hive, and you must now 



