520 INSTINCT OF INSECTS. 



which were pointed out to me by my friend Dr. Alder- 

 son of Hull, Mr. Rogers supposes the bee to be con- 

 ducted to its hive by retracing the scents of the various 

 flowers which it has visitecfr: but this idea is more poeti- 

 cal than accurate, bees, as before observed a , flying 

 straight to their hives from great distances. Here, as 

 I have more than once had occasion to remark in simi- 

 lar instances, we have to regret the want of more correct 

 entomological information in the poet, who might have 

 employed with as much effect, the real fact of bees di- 

 stinguishing their own hives out of numbers near them, 

 when conducted to the spot by instinct. This recogni- 

 tion of home seems clearly the result of memory; and it 

 is remarkable that bees appear to recollect their own 

 hive rather from its situation, than from any observa- 

 tions on the hive itself b : just as a man is guided to his 

 house from his memory of its position relative to other 



O'er thymy downs she bends her busy course, 

 And many a stream allures her to its source. 

 'Tis noon, 'tis night. That eye so finely wrought, 

 Beyond the search of sense, the soar of thought. 

 Now vainly asks the scenes she left behind ; 

 Its orb so full, its vision so confined ! 

 Who guides the patient pilgrim to her cell ? 

 Who bids her soul with conscious triumph swell ? 

 With conscious truth retrace the mazy clue 

 Of varied scents that charm'd her as she flew ? 

 Hail, MEMORY, hail ! thy universal reign 

 Guards the least link of Being's glorious chain." 



a See above, p. 185 and 4.95. 



b If a hive be removed out of its ordinary position, the first day 

 after this removal, the bees do not fly to a distance without having 

 visited all the neighbouring objects. The queen does the same thing 

 when flying into the air for fecundation. Huber, Rccherchcs surles 

 Fourmit, 100. 



