150 A COMPLEX APPARATUS. 
That which is most disconcerting, and gives it a peculiar appear- 
ance, are the teeth or mandibles placed outside the mouth, and springing, 
one on the right side, the other on the left, in a horizontal direction, so 
as to meet together: ours are vertical. These projecting teeth seem to 
offer battle, though, as I have said, they are also used for pacific pur- 
poses, and serve as hands. 
Behind the teeth may be seen several little threads or palpi at the 
entrance of the mouth; which are, in reality, the little hands of the mouth, 
feeling, and handling, and turning over whatever is brought there. 
In front emerge the antennze, the other hands; but these are set 
externally, are mobile and susceptible to an excess,—in a word, electric 
hands. 
Behind the head, at the chest, commence the paws or feet, two in 
front of great dexterity, and rightly named by Kirby the arms. 
An apparatus of such complexity, placed in the fore part of the 
body, cannot fail to obscure and overcloud its physiognomy. What 
would be the case with our own, if from our eyes and mouth six hands 
started, to say nothing of those which proceed from the shoulders, and 
of four others placed lower down ? 
The whole is intended for action and defence. The face which the 
insect shows is its resisting skull, its bony case, which cannot move. 
This frames, encloses, and fixes the eyes, which are also immovable ; 
but, being exterior and multiple, motion is not necessary : those of the 
ant are divided into fifty facets, which reveal everything to it either 
in front or rear. Thus, then, its sight is admirable, but it cannot ooh. 
No external muscle sets the mask in motion. And, therefore, it has 
no physiognomy. 
But, in compensation, its pantomime was extremely expressive,—I 
may even say, very pathetic. On discovering that it was so feeble and 
incapable of walking, it did exactly what prudent and sagacious man 
would have done, and attempted to recover its energies by the very 
means which we should have employed. It commenced a methodical 
friction of its entire body, from above to below. Seated like a little 
monkey, it skilfully made use of its arms or anterior feet in such a 
manner as to rub its back and side. Occasionally it returned to its 
