E. M. CAMPBELL—ON - INSTINCT. 
135 
moon were high in the heavens, they would he stopped in their 
upward flight by the rarefied atmosphere. If the moon were on 
the horizon, animals would find out that they were apparently 
getting no nearer to it, and their attention would in the end he 
diverted to another object, such as a flower from which they could 
obtain food. Their action would be similar to that frequently 
observed in street-boys, who, seeing a glare of a distant fire, think 
it quite close, and run some distance, when, finding that it seems as 
far off as ever, they stop at a sweet-stall. 
But we do not know whether birds or moths fly towards the 
moon, or not. If they did, the habit might be useful as a means 
of distribution. Newman observes : “ It is well known that on 
moonlight nights, moths forsake sugar, ivy, flowers, etc., and 
wholly disappear. The same is true of ‘ light.’ When the moon 
comes out it is a signal for all properly-disposed moths to go to 
bed.” % This statement is, however, opposed to the experiences of 
many collectors, and ought to be limited to certain species. It is 
quite possible that the light of the moon is sufficient to render 
some moths blind, and as inactive as in day-light. I am sorry to 
be unable to report any experiments as to the disappearance of the 
luminous reflex from the eyes of moths when exposed to moonlight, 
but I hope to refer again to the subject on another occasion. 
I have often been told that the flame-seeking habits of animals 
are due to the attraction which light exercises upon all life, 
but this statement is far too broad. Plants and animals require 
different degrees of light according to their kind and habit, and 
suffer as much from a superabundance as from an insufficiency. 
The lamp which draws a family round a table will, if it shine 
on a lawn, cause the eyeless worms to withdraw into their holes, 
and there is a limit to the brilliancy which gives pleasure to man. 
Darkness is concealment and safety for most humble creatures, 
but light is to them a source of danger, and the primary use of 
vision may have been the avoidance of enemies. 
In concluding my remarks on the actions of animals which are 
injurious to themselves, it may be well to refer to the erroneous 
statement that a bee loses its sting whenever it stings, and dies. 
The fact is that death only ensues when the substance penetrated 
is so resisting that the muscles of the bee are not strong enough to 
withdraw the sting. In such cases the bee escapes, but is so 
injured that it dies. It is, however, strange that queen-bees 
should require so much provocation to induce them to sting, if 
indeed we except that of the presence of their own sex. They 
may be held in the mouth with impunity if uninjured. Young 
bees just out of the pupa show the same forbearance, but this may 
he due to partial muscular development. I am inclined to think 
that the cause of the queen-bee’s apparent good nature is that, 
accustomed to a most quiet life in the hive, she is soon frightened, 
and like the neuter bees does not sting when thus affected. 
* ‘Insect-Hunter’s Companion,’ p. 107. The word “light’’here refers to 
artificial light used by collectors to attract moths. 
