Page:Jardine Naturalist's library Bees.djvu/104

100 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 special reference to the subject of this chapter. It has been said of Instinct generally, that, taken the least out of its way. 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 far 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 conform to the circumstances 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 Architecture. 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 considerable degree. But in adapting their waxen structures to change of circumstances, and so as to overcome any artificial obstacle,—in building upwards, contrary 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