MOLLUSCA. 17 



Child, We learn from the accounts of others. 



Teacher. True, we are instructed by the 

 experience of others. But watch any animal, a 

 bee for instance : when it makes its cell, does 

 it try several times before he succeeds ? 



Child. No, he does it perfectly at the first 

 attempt. 



Teacher. Has it been taught by its own 

 species ? 



Child. No. 



Teacher. What then is the difference between 

 the principle that guides the bee, and that which 

 guides man ? 



Child. Man is taught both by his own ex- 

 perience, and that of others ; but the bee acts 

 rightly without either. 



Teacher. Yes ; it is directed immediately 

 by a principle implanted in it by the Creator. 

 This principle is called instinct, and is well 

 defined to be prior to experience, and indepen- 

 dant of instruction. I will now read to you the 

 summary of to-day's lesson attend, that you 

 may be able to write an account of it from 

 recollection. 



Many of the mollusca, though destitute of 

 jointed limbs, have organs of motion ; some 

 have a fleshy expansion extending the length of 

 the body, called a foot ; this is full of muscles, 

 by which it is moved, it acts like a sucker, and 

 the animal advances by fixing the fore part to 



