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A Theatre $f Political Flying Insert',
It U said by some of the Ancients, that Insects have ooelythe sense of feeling , which is manifestly untrue, for if they goforth right to a place they must need* see.
Their smelling is quick and excellent,for they will sent honeya mile from their Hives,and make haste to it,and when they styealoft in the aire by it, sent any Howry Mead or Heath nearthem.
As soon as the hovy-dew is fallen, they presently sent it, al-though the Oak* that receive it bee asar off; which the Poet(speaking of the excellency of this creature in this sense ) (hutexpreffetn,
Iikoque per aurae
Ale Hi* ap ei quam longe ducuntur odere »
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Lt»cret.L<.
Their seeling is as active as their other senses, nay more, for it ia -most individuate, it inheres in the subsistence of the creature,and cannot bee separated , or taken away without the detriment, Third Ess ofor utter decay rather of the subject wherein it is. It may Touching.^therefore bee called the living sense, although in divers dis-eases and occurrences also oft-time befalling the subjectwherein it is,it may be deprived of it.As we read of Atkeatgiratof Arg» , who never felt any pain when hee was stung by aScorpiog.
Their feeling is so qtfck, that if you do touch a Hive veryfofdy^ir knock upon the ground neat the stool, they presentlyresent ir, making a general murmure, and many of (hemcoming out of the Hive door, as it were co examine the cause. , ‘
And for their caste, this is evidently as active as their o.tlser.senses; thereby they make choice of waters, and all k othcrgatherings for their use and purpose.
And lastly, for their hearing, that also is good, thoughrift ot le doubts of it, naydenies it. Cardan faith, That/Arist-dehist.Bees, because they are so small creature*, cannot hear and see P 1 'too,- butbeing flying creatures , there is a necessity of Teeing, -^ard oe s-ubrll*and therefore an impossibility of heating ; but hee contradictshimself, when hee tells us, though untruly, that every morning Ide-ndc varie-(ali being yet silent if not asleep^ one (the Crnstable sure, or tauter uml.7*vthe Master of the Watch ) by two or three Bombes or. so rillfounds like a Trumpet, calls them all up to their work; and so
. like-