48 INTRODUCTION, 



before, therefore, he again attempted to swing, he examin- 

 ed his rope most carefully, by tugging at each end. Hav- 

 ing satisfied himself, he recommenced his sport ; but at 

 every future time of swinging the crafty animal observed 

 the same caution. Can these extraordinary instances of 

 reflection and forethought be referred to instinct? The 

 pain and fright in both instances were retnembered, but the 

 effects resulting from the means made use of to avoid a 

 repetition of them were recollected. — In a former note I 

 have noticed the talking parrots of Prince Maurice 

 and Capt. O'Kelly : with regard to the extraordinary 

 powers of the latter, and its apparent rational applica-. 

 tion of speech, there can be no possible doubt, as hun- 

 dreds of witnesses, at present living, can testify. 



The late Rev. Robinson, of Cambridge, was a 



great admirer of bees, with which he used to amuse him- 

 self much. On visiting them early one morning, he was 

 struck with the appearance of a toad, who, by some 

 means, had stationed himself on the stand whereon the 

 bees were placed. Mr. Robinson's first impulse was 

 to remove the toad, but, observing that no bees issued 

 from the immediate hive opposite to which the intruder 

 had placed himself, he became curious to watch the 

 event ; and the more so, as, by an unusual hum among 

 the bees, he concluded they were in consultation relative 

 to their unexpected visitor. This conjecture proved 

 correct, for in a few minutes they unanimously came 

 out and attacked the toad, who died in a little time. 

 Having done this, they again retired within their hive, 

 and again appeared to deliberate, probably on what w as 

 next to be done. On reappearing, they, apparently 

 with one accord, went in quest of a matter more plastic 

 than their common wax, with which in a few hours they 

 completely encased the dead toad, and by this means 



