104 SUPPLEMENT ON 



sacre of the drones takes place ? Lastly, to omit a hundred 

 other instances, as njany of them will be subsequently ad- 

 verted to, if we may, with some shew of reason, suppose 

 that it is the sensation of heat which causes bees to swarm ; 

 yet what possible conception can we form of its being bodily 

 sensation that leads bees to send out scouts in search of a hive 

 suitable for the new colony, several days before swarming.'''' 



We confess that nothing appears to us to be more conclusive 

 and satisfactory than the above observations. 



There are some very material peculiarities which distin- 

 guish the instincts of insects from those of other animals. 

 These are reduced by Mr. Spence under the heads of e.xqu'i- 

 siteness, number, and extraordinary development. The in- 

 stincts of other animals are for the most part of a very simple 

 kind, having reference to the selection of food, propagation, 

 defence of themselves and their young, and expression of their 

 feelings by vocal sounds. Some of the larger animals have 

 more developed instincts, which extend to laying up food for 

 Avinter, and constructing habitations for the young, &c. 



Insects have all these instincts, but many of them exhibit 

 an exquisiteness of instinct unknown to other animals. No 

 animal, of the preceding classes, catches its prey with such 

 exquisite contrivance as the spider. No carnivorous beast 

 digs a pit-fall for its intended victim, concealing itself below 

 until the prey is caught, like the ant-lion. It is only neces- 

 sary to hint at the dwellings of bees, ants, &c. in this place. 

 Even the exquisite construction of some birds'-nests, and the 

 buildings of the beavers, are not to be compared with them. 



A very remarkable character in the instinct of insects, is 

 its accommodation to circumstances. In the larger animals, 

 the modifications of instinct are but slight. When a birds**- 

 nest is removed, though it may remain close by the tree, it 

 never thinks of replacing it, but sets about constructing 

 another. But insects often exhibit the most ingenious re- 



