84: EGGS, &c. OF ANTS. 
ble attendants ascertain the proper mo- 
ment for this process ?—If they possessed 
the faculty of hearing, we might imagine 
they knew the fit time, from some noise 
produced in the interior of the prison by 
the insects whose developement has com- 
menced; but there is no indication favour- 
ing this opinion ; it is probable they have 
a knowledge of it from some slight move- 
ments that take place within, which they 
ascertain through the medium of their 
antenne; for these organs are endowed 
with a sensibility, of which it would be 
difficult to form a just idea: whatever it: 
be, they are never deceived. 
Let us still follow them in that labour, 
wherein are displayed, as it regards their 
charge, a zeal and an attachment. which 
would justly merit our attention, even 
were they the real parents of these in- 
sects; how much greater then must be 
our astonishment, when we consider that 
they bear no further relation to them, 
than that of being born under the same 
roof. Several males and females lay in 
