22 INTERNAL ANATOMY OF INSECTS. 



the correctness of the assumption. Now in these ani- 

 mals the system in question not only renders to the nu- 

 tritive and reproductive organs, which is the principal 

 function of the great sympathetic nerves in the verte- 

 brates; but by the common organs maintains a connexion 

 with the external world, and acquires ideas of things 

 without, which in them is a function of the cerebral sy- 

 stem: from the same centre also issue those powers which 

 at the bidding of the will put the limbs in action, which 

 also belongs to the cerebral system. That insects have 

 memory, and consequently a real brain, has been before 

 largely proved, as also that they have that degree of intel- 

 lect and judgement which enables them to profit by the 

 notices furnished by their senses a . What can be the use 

 of eyes, of the senses of hearing, smelling, feeling, &c. 

 if they are not instructed by them what to choose and 

 what to avoid ? And if they are thus instructed they 

 must have sufficient intellect to apprehend it, and a por- 

 tion of free will to enable them to act according to it. 

 With regard to the assertion that they are incapable of 

 instruction, or of acquiring new habits ; few or no ex- 

 periments have been tried with the express purpose of 

 ascertaining this point : but some well-authenticated facts 

 are related, from which it seems to result that insects 

 may be taught some things, and acquire habits not in- 

 stinctive. They could scarcely be brought from their 

 wild state, and domesticated, as bees have been so uni- 

 versally, and both ants and wasps occasionally b , without 

 some departure from the habits of their wild state ; and 

 the fact of the corsair-bees, that acquire predatory habits 



a VOL. II. p. 519-. 507. 



b Huber Fourmis, 260. Reaum, vi, 172. 



