82 Spinning for Mahseer. CHAP. v. 



jackdaw, the myna, and others, which not only repeat words, but catch 

 so exactly the intonation of the human speaker that they are sometimes 

 indistinguishable. 



That there are different voices for different sexes we can ourselves 

 recognize in the varying voices of domestic poultry, and man can so 

 copy the voice, and parrot-wise probably the words also, of a she bear 

 that a male bear shall answer it from far away in the forest, and keep 

 on answering and drawing near as called. I have seen it done on the 

 Animalais, till we had to desist because we were unarmed. The 

 gentleman who did it said that there were junglemen who could thus 

 call a male bear within easy shot. Many of us have heard natives so 

 copy jackals crying over their prey that others shall answer and come 

 even within striking distance of a club. This subject might be enlarged 

 on, but I only wish to lead up to my fish. 



Take just one example from insects, in addition to those from beasts 

 and birds. Watch the ants moving in long columns along some con- 

 jointly cleared road, in some particular direction, evidently with some 

 common object. How did they agree about and communicate to each 

 other that common plan ? Put your finger, or any other obstacle, in 

 the line and stop them. There is immediately excitement amongst 

 them all, and parties swarm up to remove the obstacle with a readiness 

 that seems to say the state of affairs has been rapidly communicated, 

 and a course of conduct resolved upon and ordered by authority. See 

 two ants meet and cross feelers rapidly, and then go on their several 

 ways. What have they been doing? Fooling? All their history is 

 against the supposition. They would seem to have been conversing. 

 Watch them dragging a cockroach up the side of a wall. It is about 

 fifty times the size and weight of any one of them, but there they are 

 on all sides, some upholding, some dragging, some pushing, others 

 indicating the way, and others coming as reliefs, but all evidently 

 understanding each other, and consequently working with a unanimity 

 of purpose which alone could make it possible to accomplish their end 

 as they do. They clear fields, sow seeds, cultivate them, and in due 

 course cut, carry, and store crops in granaries built for the purpose. 

 They forage for, capture, stall, feed, and milk cows. They maintain 

 armies and take prisoners. They have a well ordered society. It is 

 impossible that they could do all this without being able to communicate 

 freely with each other. 



