244 LEAVES FROM THE BOOK OF NATURE. 



Now, we have learned to admire the beautiful structure of 

 their eyes ; now we know that they hear, and with an ear 

 not only open to sounds, but able to distinguish the depth 

 and volume of voices. In some shellfish, the ear is a marvel 

 of beauty ; and even the lowest have at least one or more 

 tiny chambers, in which to catch the faintest sound, and 

 a special nerve to carry it to their imperfect mind. A 

 thunder-clap frightens the lobster to death ; and the pirates 

 of the north used to threaten the fishermen with the firing 

 of a gun, which would kill their rich freight in a moment 

 and render it unfit for market. 



Locusts hear each other, for their strange call invites the 

 female, and is always accepted. Ants, also, are not devoid 

 of such a sense. When the termites are busy building their 

 gigantic houses, watchmen are seen to stand from distance to 

 distance. Every two minutes, with truly marvellous ap- 

 preciation of time, they strike their tiny tongue against the 

 hollow wall. Instantly a loud hissing is heard, uttered by 

 the laborers all over the vast building ; and, with double 

 zeal and renewed vigor, they work in passage and chamber. 

 The proud soldier-sentinel looks carefully around, to see 

 that all are duly employed, waits his appointed time, and 

 then repeats the curious warning. Bees are lovers of 

 music, and know the voice of man. Huber, who, though 

 blind, knew the strange people better than we who have 

 eyes, tells us how they listen to the command of the " bee- 

 father," and follow him wherever he calls them. This 

 fact is well known in the East, where the owner draws 

 them thus from their hives into the fields, and leads them 

 back again by a hiss or a whistle. Hence, " it shall come 



