OF INSECTS IN GENENAE. 327 
legs crofted, it has been faid to be employed in devotion ; 
a circumtlance from which it has in fome parts obtained 
its name *. 
The fame infe& is faid to have fuch a regard for chil- 
dren, that, fhould one lofe its way, it humanely points 
to the proper way with its leg, and feldom is known to 
give a wrong direction. Of this kind, too, is the refpect 
for their dead, which has been alcribed to the ants, and 
the decency with which they beftow the honours of in- 
terment upon their deceafed friends. Thefe reports reft 
upon no better foundation, than that thefe animals, and 
fome fpecies of bees, are feen carrying from the hive 
fuch as have perifhed or been killed. How many won- 
ders of a fimilar kind have been told of the common bee ; 
wonders which render the greater part of the early 
treatifes upon them hardly more indructive than a ro- 
mance. Their affociatious have been deemed a perfedt 
model of a monarchical government, conducted by one 
fovereign, whofe commands are implicitly obeyed, and 
regulate all the different operations in which they are fo 
bufily employed. From farther inveftigation, however, 
this king of the bees has a queen, and fo prodigioufly 
prolific, that from three or four, which are to be found 
in every hive, the whole progeny, which confifts of many 
thoufands, is derived. 
The different operations which infedls perform, no 
doubt oblige the natural ill to aferibe to them a certain 
degree of intelligence ; fome degree of it we have feen 
poffeffed by the other animals : From analogy, therefore, 
we may reafonably fuppofe them not altogether deftitute 
af fagacity. The different proceffes through which they 
g<V 
Vide Muoffet, p. 118, In Provcace, it is called the God-prayer. 
