INSECT COMMUNICATION. 409 



the natural opening at top of the bean and other tubular 

 flowers ; but when by the breadth of their shoulders forbidden 

 entrance into this narrow passage, they drill a hole with their 

 proboscis through the calyx right into the tube, and in this 

 manner tap their luscious wine, while the less bulky Bacchanals 

 of the same species quaff it in the ordinary way. 



It is not ours to boast ourselves of any talismanic gift, 

 enabling us to "understand the steven" of parleying insects; 

 but we never watch the busy workers of the ant-hill, coming 

 and going, stopping as they encounter, and laying their heads 

 together, without being pretty certain that they are saying to 

 each other a something quite as full, perhaps, of informing or 

 of friendly significance as the " Fine day," or the " How do 

 you do?" which forms the usual salutation of meeting men. 



We may often, too, perceive an ardent little labourer of the 

 same race toiling at a burden may be, a great dead blue- 

 bottle may be, a fragment of wood five times bigger than 

 herself. After repeated efforts, she finds her strength unequal 

 to remove it, and then bethinks herself (for think she must) 

 that two or three united forces, and several pairs of forceps, are 

 better than one, and, acting on the thought, we see her approach 

 another or perhaps a group of her comrades, conduct them to the 

 spot where she left her load, and succeed by their assistance in 

 its transport. 



On the borders of a path or roadway leading through High- 

 gate wood towards Hornsey, were scattered several of the 

 conical cities of the red or wood ants. These, in their comings 

 and goings, were accustomed continually to cross the thorough- 

 fare, in doing which many among them fell victims to the feet 

 of the passers-by. The intelligence of the survivors extended 

 not certainly to the length of making them take warning by 

 the fate of their comrades; yet they seemed to observe and 

 sympathize therein. We have repeatedly noticed them stop- 

 ping, first one, then another, on discovering of a dead mutilated 

 body, till a group of several is collected round it. Sometimes, 



