382 THK BEE KKEPEK'S MANUAL. 



by Mr. Spence. The line of distinction between man and 

 the lower orders of creation, is not the mere fact that he 

 reasons and they do not, but that he has a moral and accoun- 

 able nature, while they have nothing of the kind. 



" It will be evident," says Bevan, " that though I make a 

 distinction between the instinct and the reason of bees, I do 

 not confound their reason with the reason of man. But to 

 obviate all possibility of misconception, I will at once de- 

 fine my meaning, when I use the terms insect reason and 

 instinct." 



" By reason, I mean the power of making deductions from 

 previous experience or observation, and thereby of adapting 

 means to ends. Instinct I regard as a disposition and pow- 

 er to perform certain actions in the same uniform manner, 

 depending upon nice mechanism and having no reference 

 either to observation or experience ; operating on the means, 

 without anticipation of the end, incited by no hope, con- 

 trolled by no foreboding. Those who have attended to this 

 subject, will be aware that insect reason, as above defined, 

 is more restricted in its functions than the reason of man ; 

 to which is superadded the power of distinguishing between 

 the true and the false, and, according to some metaphysi- 

 cians, between right and wrong. Reason, in man, has a 

 regular growth and a islow progression ; all the arts he prac- 

 tices evince skill and dexterity, proportioned to the pains 

 which have been taken in acquiring them. In the lower 

 links of creation, but little of this gradual improvement is 

 observable ; their powers carry them almost directly to their 

 object. They are perfect, as Bacon says, in all their mem- 

 bers and organs from the very beginning." 



" Far different Man, to higher fates assign'd, 

 Unfolds with tardier step his Proteus mind, 

 With numerous Instincts fraught, that lose their force 

 Like shallow streams, divided in their course ; 



