INSTINCT OF INSECTS. 425 



But the most striking fact, evincing the memory of these 

 last-mentioned insects, has been communicated to me by my 

 intelligent friend Mr. William Stickney, of Bidgemont, Hol- 

 derness. About twenty years ago, a swarm from one of this 

 gentleman's hives took possession of an opening beneath the 

 tiles of his house, whence, after remaining a few hours, they 

 were dislodged and hived. For many subsequent years, 

 when the hives descended from this stock were about to 

 swarm, a considerable party of scouts were observed for a 

 few days before to be reconnoitring about the old hole under 

 the tiles ; and Mr. Stickney is persuaded that if suffered 

 they would have established themselves there. He is certain 

 that for eight years successively the descendants of the very 

 stock that first took possession of the hole frequented it as 

 above stated, and not those of any other swarms ; having con- 

 stantly noticed them, and ascertained that they were bees 

 from the original hive by powdering them while about the 

 tiles with yellow ochre, and watching their return. And 

 even at the present time there are still seen every swarming 

 season about the tiles bees, which Mr. Stickney has no doubt 

 are descendants from the original stock. 



Had Dr. Darwin been acquainted with this fact, he would 

 have adduced it as proving that insects can convey tradition- 

 ary information from one generation to another ; and at the 

 first glance the circumstance of the descendants of the same 

 stock retaining a knowledge of the same fact for twenty 

 years, during which period there must have been as many 

 generations of bees, would seem to warrant the inference. 

 But as it is more probable that the party of surveying scouts 

 of the first generation was the next year accompanied by 

 others of a second, who in like manner conducted their 



long thorax, placed its fore-feet as if to seize its prey, and half expanded its 

 wings and elytra, rubbing its abdomen repeatedly against their sides, so as to 

 produce a noise like that of parchment. " From the first moment (continues 

 M. Goureau) to the last day that I kept it, every time that I visited it and 

 gave the same slight whistle it assumed its defensive attitude, and did not quit 

 it till it judged the danger past." {Ann. Soc. Ent. de France, x. bull, xviii.) 



