l86l.] LYELL'S WORK. 365 



thought some of the remains in the Devonshire caverns were 

 pre-glacial, and this, I presume, is now your conclusion for the 

 older celts with hyena and hippopotamus. It is grand. 

 What a fine long pedigree you have given the human 

 race ! 



I am sure I never thought of parallel roads having been 

 accumulated during subsidence. I think I see some diffi- 

 culties on this view, though, at first reading your note, I 

 jumped at the idea. But I will think over all I saw there. I 

 am (stomacho volente) coming up to London on Tuesday to 

 work on cocks and hens, and on Wednesday morning, about 

 a quarter before ten, I will call on you (unless I hear to the 

 contrary), for I long to see you. I congratulate you on your 

 grand work. 



Ever yours, 



C. Darwin. 



P.S. Tell Lady Lyell that I was unable to digest the 

 funereal ceremonies of the ants, notwithstanding that Erasmus 

 has often told me that I should find some day that they have 

 their bishops. After a battle I have always seen the ants 

 carry away the dead for food. Ants display the utmost 

 economy, and always carry away a dead fellow-creature as 

 food. But I have just forwarded two most extraordinary 

 letters to Busk, from a backwoodsman in Texas, who has evi- 

 dently watched ants carefully, and declares most positively 

 that they plant and cultivate a kind of grass for store food, 

 and plant other bushes for shelter ! I do not know what to 

 think, except that the old gentleman is not fibbing inten- 

 tionally. I have left the responsibility with Busk whether or 

 no to read the letters.* 



* I.e. to read them before the Linnean Society. 



