14 THE EVOLUTIONIST AT LARGE. 



about wildly, inquiring of one another with 

 their antennae whether this is really Dooms- 

 day, and whether the whole course of nature 

 has been suddenly revolutionised. Then, 

 after a short consultation, they determine 

 upon action ; and every ant starts off in a 

 different direction to hunt the lost track, head 

 to the ground, exactly as a pointer hunts the 

 missing trail of a bird or hare. Each ventures 

 an inch or so off, and then runs back to find 

 the rest, for fear he should get isolated alto- 

 gether. At last, after many failures, one 

 lucky fellow hits upon the well-remembered 

 train of scents, and rushes back, leaving smell- 

 tracks no doubt upon the soil behind him. The 

 message goes quickly round from post to post, 

 each sentry making passes with his antennae 

 to the next picket, and so sending on the 

 news to the main body in the rear. Within 

 five minutes communications are re-esta- 

 blished, and the precious bit of worm-meat 

 continues triumphantly on its way along the 

 recovered path. An ingenious writer would 



