22 INTERNAL ANATOMY OF INSECTS. 
world, and acquires ideas of things without, which in 
them is a function of the cerebral system: from the same 
centre also issue those powers which at the bidding of 
the will put the limbs in action, which also belongs to 
the cerebral system. That insects have memory, and 
consequently a real brain, has been before largely proved, 
as also that they have that degree of intellect and judge- 
ment which enables them to profit by the notices fur- 
nished by their senses?. What can be the use of eyes,— 
of the senses of hearing, smelling, feeling &c. if they are 
not instructed by them what to choose and what to avoid? 
And if they are thus instructed—they must have sufficient 
intellect to apprehend it, and a portion of free will to en- 
able them to act according to it. With regard to the 
assertion that they are incapable of instruction, or of ac- 
quiring new habits; few or no experiments have been tried 
with the express purpose of ascertaining this point: but 
some well authenticated facts are related, from which it 
seems to result that insects may be taught some things, 
and acquire habits not instinctive. They could scarcely 
be brought from their wild state, and domesticated, as 
bees have been so universally, and both ants and wasps 
occasionally, without some departure from the habits of 
their wild state; and the fact of the corsair-bees, that ac- 
quire predatory habits before described *, shows this more 
evidently: but one of the most remarkable stories to our 
purpose upon record, is that of M. Pelisson, who, when 
he was confined in the Bastile, tamed a spider, and taught 
it to come for food at the sound of an instrument. A 
@ Vor. ID. p. 525—. 513—. 
> Huber Fourmis, 260—. Reaum. vi. 172—. 
© Vorallans 20y¢ 
