Insects. 1585 



find confirmed by Mr. Wollaston) met my eye. The oyster and the 

 zoophyte, though we cannot perceive them to have eyes, are sensible 

 to the influence of light ; and Dr. Burmeister mentions, that some 

 blind pupa?, which habitually lie under ground, kick violently when 

 brought to the light : why, then, if we suppose insects to be deprived 

 of many sensations, should we deem them also devoid of the feeling 

 of heat? 



I hope, from my foregoing observations, I may not be suspected of 

 abiding too much by theories and speculations, but that it may be 

 perceived I have advanced them only to account for well-attested 

 facts ; and I may conclude by remarking, that whatever facts may yet 

 be observed, and whatever acumen be employed in their interpretation, 

 a strong probability is the utmost we can ever attain. 



H. N. Turner. 



1, Upper Belgrave Place, Pimlico, 

 16th December, 1846. 



[As Editor, I beg to say that I think it now time that the protracted 

 discussion on the pain felt by an impaled insect should close. The 

 question is one of great interest, involving as it does the more 

 important one, " Are we guilty of cruelty in impaling a living insect ? " 

 A great deal of time and space has I think been lost through the ad- 

 mission of extraneous matter. The subject was introduced thus by 

 the Rev. J. F. Dawson : " In that box were a number of beetles, im- 

 paled alive on pins, writhing and struggling (I say) in agony." (Zool. 

 1240). The Rev. W. Turner, adhering closely to the question whether 

 these strugglings and writhings do proceed from agony, announces 

 that the conclusion at which he arrives is that they do not. (Zool. 

 1342). Now the proper way of pursuing the subject subsequently to 

 this, would have been to search out facts, showing the conduct of in- 

 sects when in a state, in which, by every relation of analogy, we may 

 imagine them to be suffering pain. I could mention excellent instances, 

 but the ( Zoologist ' supplies two sufficient ones. First, the conduct 

 of beetles in a hot bottle (Zool. 1526), and, secondly, the conduct of 

 all orders of insects on a hot plate (Zool. 1558). These are instances 

 to which the supporters of Mr. Dawson's view must assent, because 

 adduced by themselves ; and to which the opponents of Mr. Dawson's 

 view will assent, because confirming their opposition. Now, admit- 

 ting the actions in question to result from pain, every entomologist 

 knows that impaled insects exhibit no such actions : those who are 

 not entomologists may compare the conduct of insects, as described 

 v D 



