PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 



175 



militates against the whole history which M. Huber, who 

 adopts this theory from Bonnet, has so ably given of these 

 creatures. That they may experience agreeable sensations 

 from their various employments, nobody will deny ; but that 

 such sensatious instruct them how to perform their several 

 operations, without any plan previously impressed upon their 

 sensorium, is contrary both to reason and experience. They 

 have a plan, it is evident ; and that plan, which proves that 

 it is not mere sensation, they vary according to circumstances. 

 As to affection — that bees are irritable, and feel the passion 

 of anger, no one will deny; that they are also susceptible 

 of fear, is equally evident : and if they feel anger and fear, 

 why may they not also feel love 9 Further, if they have re- 

 course to precautions for the prevention of any evil that 

 seems to threaten them, how can we refuse them a degree of 

 foresight ? Must we also resolve all their patriotism, and the 

 singular regard for the welfare of their community which 

 seems constantly to actuate them, and the sacrifices, even 

 sometimes of themselves, that they make to promote and 

 ensure it, into individual self-love ? We would not set them 

 up as rivals to man in intelligence, foresight, and the affec- 

 tions ; but they have that degree of each that is necessary 

 for their purposes. On account of the difficulties attending 

 all theories that give them some degree of these qualities, to 

 resolve all into mere sensation is removing one difficulty by 

 a greater. 



That these creatures from mere selfishness build their 

 combs, replenish them with the fruit of their unwearied 

 labours, attend so assiduously to the nurture of the young 

 brood, lavish their caresses upon their queen, prevent all her 

 wants, give a portion of the honey they have collected to 

 those that remain in the hives, assist each other, defend 

 their common dwelling, and are ready to sacrifice themselves 

 for the public good — is an anomaly in rerum natura that 

 ought never to be admitted, unless established by the most 

 irrefragable demonstration ; and I think you will not be 

 disposed without full proof to yield yourself to a mere theory, 

 so contradictory of all the facts we know relative to this sub- 

 ject. 



