260 PHYSIOLOGY. 



would seem to be proved by their having memory, 

 and a capacity to receive instruction, and acquire 

 new habits. Such functions in higher animals are 

 regarded as functions of a cerebral system. That 

 they are endowed with memory cannot well be 

 doubted. HUBER relates a remarkable instance 

 of it in bees, which illustrates what will hereafter 

 be said on their having a method of communica- 

 ting information to each other. "Honey," says 

 he, " had been placed in a window in autumn, 

 where the bees resorted to it in multitudes. It 

 was removed, and the shutters closed during 

 winter ; but when opened again, on the return of 

 spring, the bees came back, though no honey was 

 there. Undoubtedly they remembered it, there- 

 fore an interval of several weeks did not obliterate 

 the impression they had received." " But the 

 most striking fact evincing the memory of bees 

 has been communicated to me," says MR. KIRBY, 

 " by my intelligent friend MR. W. STICKNEY, of 

 Ridgemont, Holderness. About twenty years ago, 

 a swarm from one of this gentleman's hives took 

 possession of an opening beneath the tiles of his 

 house, whence, after remaining a few hours, they 

 were dislodged and hived. For many subsequent 

 years, when the hives descended from this stock 

 were about to swarm, a considerable party of 

 scouts were observed, for a few days before, to 

 be reconnoitring about the old hole under the 



