214 PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 



other, defend their common dwelling, and are ready to 

 sacrifice themselves for the public good is an anomaly 

 in rerum natura that ought never to be admitted, unless 

 established by the most irrefragable demonstration ; 

 and I think you will not be disposed without full proof 

 to yield yourself to a mere theory, so contradictory of 

 all the facts we know relative to this subject. 



After all, there are mysteries, as to the primum mobile, 

 amongst these social tribes, that with all our boasted 

 reason we cannot fathom ; nor develop satisfactorily the 

 motives that urge them to fulfill in so remarkable though 

 diversified a way their different destinies. One thing is 

 clear to demonstration, that by these creatures and their 

 instincts, the power, wisdom and goodness of the GREAT 

 FATHER of the universe are loudly proclaimed; the 

 atheist and infidel confuted ; the believer confirmed in 

 his faith and trust in Providence, which he thus beholds 

 watching, with incessant care, over the welfare of the 

 meanest of his creatures ; and from which he may con- 

 clude that he, the prince of the creation, will never be 

 overlooked or forsaken : and from them what lessons 

 may be learned of patriotism and self-devotion to the 

 public good; of loyalty; of prudence, temperance, dili- 

 gence, and self-denial. But it is time at length to put 

 an end to this long disquisition. 



I am, &c. 



