The Life of the Bee 



in equal perfection the science of the 

 chemist, the geometrician, the architect, 

 and the engineer ; but on the sarcophagi, 

 on Egyptian stones and papyri, we find 

 drawings of combs that are identical in 

 every particular. Name a single fact that 

 will show the least progress, a single in- 

 stance of their having contrived some 

 new feature or modified their habitual 

 routine, and we will cheerfully yield, and 

 admit that they not only possess an ad- 

 mirable instinct, but have also an intellect 

 worthy to approach that of man, worthy 

 to share in one knows not what higher 

 destiny than awaits unconscious and sub- 

 missive matter. 



This language is not even confined to 

 the profane ; it is made use of by ento- 

 mologists of the rank of Kirby and 

 Spence, in order to deny the bees the 

 possession of intellect other than may 

 vaguely stir within the narrow prison of 



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