NON-VOCAL LANGUAGE. 313 



may be fitly called the physiognomy of health ; but another 

 chapter shows that there exists among the lower animals, 

 as in man, a less familiar, but not less eloquent or important, 

 physiognomy of disease. 



Unfortunately some of the lower animals have imitated 

 from man certain of his most objectionable modes of ex- 

 pression intimating their derision, for instance, as the 

 masked callithrix (monkey) does, by putting its thumb to 

 its nose (Cassell). 



One of the most interesting forms of non-vocal language 

 is that of touch, especially as it occurs among ants. By 

 strokes of their antenna? they intimate the presence of booty 

 or of palatable food, point out suitable prey and the best 

 places for foraging. Their antennae give them the means of 

 intercommunication of ideas of holding conversation with 

 each other of sending requests for aid (Houzeau, Watson, 

 Smith). This exchange of thought or feeling includes the 

 conveyance of intelligence or news for instance, of dis- 

 coveries. One animal can show the way to others. Mutual 

 greetings and recognition take place after long separation 

 (Franklin, Kirby and Spence). By such means they issue 

 orders and invitations, and give advice (Figuier). Commu- 

 nication of ideas by means of antennae, or analogous organs, 

 occurs also among bees, and probably many other insects. 

 The soldiers of the white ants signal to the workers by 

 strokes of their pincers (Figuier). Thus we see that an- 

 nouncements of all kinds are not necessarily vocal. 



Another of the most interesting forms of non-vocal 

 language is the use made by certain ' learned ' animals of 

 man's alphabet of letters in the construction of words. 

 Thus we are told that the performing dog Minos, ' by means 

 of a double alphabet of separate letters, writes or constructs 

 w 7 ords. } 



