60 LECTURE V. 



tennse, or feelers, which serve them, as I will 

 presently prove to you, to hold a sort of con- 

 versation with each other. You may be sur- 

 prised at hearing this; but it is perfectly true, 

 not only with respect to ants, but also with bees 

 and wasps, and probably, also, in regard to other 

 insects. I have frequently placed a small green 

 caterpillar near an ants' nest, and watched what 

 would take place. A solitary ant has, perhaps, 

 discovered it, and eagerly attempted to draw it 

 away, as a winter store for they lay up, as 

 prudent persons should do, against a rainy day. 

 Not being able to accomplish this, I have seen it 

 go up to another ant, and by means of the an- 

 tennal language bring it to the caterpillar. 

 Still, these two were not able to accomplish 

 the task. They separated, and brought up 

 reinforcements of their community by the same 

 means, until a sufficient number were collected 

 to enable them to drag the caterpillar to their 

 nest. You thus see that a sort of language can 

 be kept up by means of these antennae. It is 

 supposed that a strong hive of bees will con- 

 tain 36,000 workers. Now, each one of these, 

 in order to be aware of the presence of their 

 queen, whom they love, as I am sure you do 



