212 PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 



in an animal that has no circulation, I am unable to 

 say ; and must leave the question, like my predecessors, 

 undecided. 



And now having detailed to you thus amply the won- 

 derful history and proceedings of the social tribes of the 

 insect world, you will allow, I think, that I have re- 

 deemed my pledge, when I taugbt you to expect that 

 this history would exceed in interest and variety and 

 marvellous results every thing that I had before related 

 to you. I trust, moreover, that you will scarcely feel 

 disposed to subscribe to that opinion, though it has the 

 sanction of some great names, which attributes these al- 

 most miraculous instincts to mere sensation ; which tells 

 us, that the sensorium of these insects is so modelled 

 with respect to the different operations that are given 

 them in charge, that it is by the attraction of pleasure 

 alone that they are determined to the execution of them ; 

 and that, as every circumstance relative to the succession 

 of their different labours is pre-ordained, to each of them 

 an agreeable sensation is affixed by the Creator : and 

 that thus, when the bees build their cells ; when they 

 sedulously attend to the young brood, when they collect 

 provisions; this is the result of no plans, of no affection, 

 of no foresight ; but that the sole determining motive is 

 the enjoyment of an agreeable sensation attached to each 

 of these operations a . Surely it would be better to re- 

 solve all their proceedings at once into a direct impulse 

 from the Creator, than to maintain a theory so contrary 

 to fact; and which militates against the whole history 

 which M. Huber, who adopts this theory from Bonnet, 

 * Huber, i. 313. 



