Insects, 1557 



teresting and important ; but I do not think them sufficient to estab- 

 lish the sweeping conclusion, that insects are destitute of feeling, 

 (which was all I formerly contended) ; and, if I understand him 

 rightly, he does not think so either ; therefore, what is the point that 

 he would attack ? I give him full credit for his varied observations, 

 and read with pleasure the interesting facts he has adduced ; but of 

 themselves I consider them insufficient to found the theory of insen- 

 sibility upon, and therefore, a fortiori, when in conjunction with in- 

 numerable other facts, altogether independent of analogy, which seems 

 to prove the contrary proposition. 



Mr. Turner allows that " insects feel," aud yet he assumes that 

 " this sensation is not produced by their being impaled ?> ! Now, if 

 the first (allowance) be correct, the second (assumption) must be erro- 

 neous ; for, if they can feel at all, surely they cannot be insensible, 

 when pierced through the very centre of their bodies, although, for a 

 short time after it has taken place, particular circumstances, per- 

 chance, may render them so. I should rather consider that, if he as- 

 sumes the second proposition, he must of necessity, and out of consist- 

 ency, deny the first. So far, however, as the first is concerned, I 

 should also allow with him " that insects feel " (and certainly if we 

 may appeal to analogy, which at present I will not do, everything 

 tends to show it), — but here we part ; for my next step would not be 

 to assume that feeling " is not produced by their being impaled ; " 

 nor, on the other hand would it be to assume that it is. I confess I 

 should be prejudiced in favour of the latter; but I should not 

 " assume " it. I should rather go humbly to Nature in the full expec- 

 tations of finding it the case, and endeavour to deduce it from the ob- 

 servation of facts. This has always been my object, and I confess I 

 have not only never seen anything to negative what both Mr. Turner 

 and myself, in the first instance, allow (viz., " that insects feel ") ; but 

 let us look at the positive side of the question, and see what has been 

 my conviction there. The " observation of facts," resulting not only 

 from impaled Lepidoptera (which is merely one condition brought for- 

 ward on the question of sensibility), but also from the peculiar states 

 (which ought to produce pain, if a sense of pain exists at all) which 

 other insects have been plunged into under various circumstances, 

 has always led me to conclude that their sense of feeling is greater 

 than we give them credit for, and amounts in fact, to a true sense of 

 pain. The instance so opportunely brought forward by Mr. Guyon 

 (Zool. 1526) is a striking example of this, and one which has oc- 

 curred beneath my notice nearly every alternate day during the last 



