IN REPUBLICS. 378 
other? The subtlety of their senses, or 
rather that unbounded affection which 
exists between them teaches them to dis- 
tinguish, in their contests, their compa- 
nions from their enemies: a language, 
significant and extremely rapid, informs 
them of the danger of their companions, 
or the success of their enterprise. This 
language is the bond of that union, you 
remark in this numerous family ; it is 
not by sounds, or visible signs, but by 
contact alone, that it is manifested, more 
particularly by the antenna, those organs 
which distinguish insects from all other 
living beings: these serve, in those 
species collected in. societies, the noble 
purpose of communicating, from one in 
dividual to another, the impressions, 
situation, and necessities of each: the 
antennal language is, without doubt, im- 
perfect, if we compare it with our wants, 
but amply suffices for those of ants. 
Bees also make use of signs, although 
they are no strangers to sounds. When 
the queen wishes to lead away some part 
