150 THE UNIVERSE. 



the intestine during their seclusion. It is of a bright red 

 in certain diurnal Lepidoptera, in particular the Vanessse, 

 and especially among them the great toi^toise-shell, to which 

 Ileaumur principally ascribes the occurrence. 



M. de Peirese, in fact, made out that the shower of blood 

 at Aix had been accompanied by a prodigious swarm of 

 iKitterflies, and in the Encyclopedia it is said that his con- 

 jectures Avere confirmed, by their not finding any spots on 

 the roofs, but only on the lower stories of the houses, the 

 places which the butterflies choose for their metamor- 

 phoses.^ 



CHAPTEE III. 



THE INTELLIGENCE OF INSECTS. 



Descartes, who paid little attention to insects, only saw 

 in them ingenious machines, living automatons, wound up 

 once only to put their wheels and springs in movement; 

 all that is so marvellous in their existence escaped this 

 brilliant genius. But Avhen Cartesianism had had its day, 

 a few timid philosophers consented to recognize some 

 obscure traces of instinct in these animals. 



In proportion, however, as they studied these miniature 

 specimens of creation, men discovered certain elevated 

 faculties and perfect senses, to which succeed comparison 

 and judgment. We even see them accomplish acts the 



^ The Cyclopedia of Diderot contaius a very good article on these showers of 

 blood. 



