170 Wisconsin Academy of Sciences^ Arts, and Letters. 



could be maintained successf ally that many of the later perform- 

 ances of the creature were in the proper sense of the word in- 

 stinctive. It seemed as if, when it found itself unable to move 

 its ball, — I say it seemed to stop and deliberate as to what should 

 be done. It seemed to have found a place of securing aid from, 

 some other beetle. For, after a short absence, it returned with a 

 companion. It seemed to have gone purposely to find it. It must 

 have communicated in some way a knowledge of its wants, for the 

 other beetle seemed to understand the case. They had a common 

 purpose, as was evidenced by their united action toward the same 

 end. They seemed to consult, when they found themselves unable 

 to move the ball. They seemed by common consent to conclude 

 to make another effort. When the ball was found movable again, 

 beetle number two seemed to know that it was needed no longer, 

 and probably returned to its own occupations. Certainly this 

 cannot have been all due to instinct. It has the plain mark of 

 the presence and action of mind, no less so because the signs of 

 purposive acts were done by beetles instead of men. The signs 

 of mmd are much the same as they would have been under simi- 

 lar circumstances among men. 



As has been already intimated, one case well studied is as good 

 as a hundred. But though this is so, I shall now proceed to ad- 

 vance other examples from the animal kingdom, apparently in- 

 volving mental action. 



For example, let us consider points in the history and doings 

 of ants, as we have given much observation and study to these 

 most singular little creatures. On one occasion, as I was passing 

 along a road, my attention was attracted by a company of large, 

 pale red ants hurrying across the way, the whole company follow- 

 ing what seemed to be a leader, who was much in the advance. I 

 stopped and followed them through the grass and weeds for full 

 fifty yards, when they suddenly came to a halt, and collected in a 

 circle in the space beneath the bending spires of grass, mmed i- 

 ately one of the ants disappeared in a hole in the ground, only to 

 be followed with every appearance of precipitation by one after 

 another of the companj^ At this moment a smaller ant, but of a 

 similar color, entered on the scene, and rushed for the hole in the 



