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architecture of bees. 
animal instinct than has been already furnished by 
writers* well entitled to our respect, we shall restrict 
ourselves to one or two brief remarks having a spe- 
cial reference to the subject of this chapter. It has 
been said of Instinct generally, that, taken the least 
out of its tray, it seems an undistinguishing, limited 
faculty, and blind to any circumstance that does not 
immediately respect self-preservation, or lead at once 
to the propagation or support of the species. As for 
as the instinct of Bees is concerned, this maxim 
must be taken in a qualified sense; for there are 
numerous instances in the proceedings of this insect 
in which instinct does vary, and coufonn to the cir- 
cumstances of place and convenience ; and in no part 
of their economy do we see more striking instances 
of this half- reasoning faculty than in their Architec- 
ture. In the ordinary operations of collecting their 
food, feeding their young, following their queen, &c. 
they are prompted, doubtless, by pure and simple 
instinct. In avoiding danger, and in returning to 
the spot where food had formerly been provided for 
them, they seem guided by an exertion of memory, a 
faculty which they appear to possess in a consider- 
able degree. But in adapting their waxen structures 
to change of circumstances, and so as to overcome 
any artificial obstacle, — in building upwards, con- 
trary to their natural mode of procedure, — in building 
laterally, when unable to find a sure foundation for 
their works, either above or below, — in curving their 
combs, and constructing them angularly, when de- 
*See Bonnet, Huber, Virev, Kirby and Spence, Bevan, &c. 
