322 INSTINCTS OF BEES. 



extinct. May it not be asked, What means 

 more effectual could human wisdom have devised, 

 under similar circumstances ? Indeed, many of 

 the proceedings of bees and other associated in- 

 sects seem traceable to a reasoning power ; for 

 they exhibit an adaptation of means to ends, 

 and vary them to suit particular emergencies, the 

 judicious performance of actions with a view to 

 some proposed end, is the criterion by which we 

 judge of rationality. 



On the other hand, the difficulty of ascribing 

 some of their actions to any other principle than 

 that which is known by the name of Instinct, has 

 led to a classification of the whole of their pro- 

 ceedings under that head. 



INSTINCT is a faculty the exercise of which im- 

 plies an exquisitely fine mechanism of some of the 

 senses. It appears to operate independently of 

 all anticipation of consequences ; the avenues to 

 knowledge are, to be sure, less circuitous in these 

 and other animals than in man, neither experience 

 nor inductive reasoning seem to be at all essential 

 to the perfection of their operations ; they may be 

 said to have, what many an indolent human being 

 has wished to find, a royal road to knowledge. 



" If in the Insect, Reason's twilight ray 

 Sheds on the darkling mind a doubtful day, 

 Plain is the steady light her Instincts yield, 

 To point the road o'er life's unvaried field ; 



