112 SUPPLEMENT ON 



three of his companions. All four now applied their united 

 strength to the pellet, and at length succeeded in pushing it 

 out ; which being done the three assistant beetles left the 

 spot, and returned to their own quarters/' 



That insects possess memory, seems quite certain. Bees 

 after hours of wandering return to their own particular hives, 

 which they clearly distinguish from all others in the same 

 neighbourhood. This fact is well expressed by INIr. Rogers, 

 in his poem of the " Pleasures of Memory,"" though he is 

 mistaken in supposing the bee to be reconducted to its hive 

 by the scent of the various flowers which it has visited, for 

 bees fly straight to their hives from great distances. 



" Hark ! the bee winds her small but mellow horn, 

 Blithe to salute the sunny smile of morn. 

 O'er thymy downs she bends her busy course, 

 And many a stream allures her to its source. 

 'Tis noon, 'tis night. That eye so finely wrought. 

 Beyond the search of sense, the soar of thought, 

 Now vainly asks the scenes she left behind ; 

 Its orb so full, its vision so confined ! 

 Who guides the patient pilgrim to her cell ? 

 Who bids her soul with conscious triumph swell ? 

 With conscious truth retrace the mazy clue 

 Of varied scents that charmed her as she flew ? 

 Hail ! Memory, hail ! thy universal reign 

 Guards the least link of Being's glorious chain." 



In concluding this imperfect survey of the intellectual 

 faculties of insects, we may sum up by saying, tliat the great 

 majority of their actions are guided by a principle of instinct, 

 toally distinct from reason ; that however, they seem capable, 

 though to a very limited extent, of forming judgments from 

 their immediate perceptions, and of acting thereupon. At 

 least that they perform actions which will hardly admit of 

 any other solution than this. We may also conclude that 



