SENSES OP ANTS. 09 



into line and marclied out of the tiole, led by the one 

 that first found it. 



In this way it was seen that auts can talk to each 

 other with their antennae as we with our tongues, or 

 ratlier, perhaps, as deaf and dumb people who are 

 also blind do with their fingers. 



If you place a dead fiy near an ant-hole and an 

 ant finds it, the little creature will try to carry the fly 

 away. As the fly, to it, is as large compared with 

 the insect as an elephant is to you, the ant, although 

 very much stronger for its size than the strongest 

 man, soon sees it needs help. It leaves the fly and 

 goes back to its ant-hill. If it meets an ant belong- 

 ing to its own hill it touches the antennae of its friend 

 with its own and the two start off together, but it 

 does not notice stranger ants. If it does not meet 

 any friend, it goes down into its hole and presently 

 comes out again with a number of house mates, that 

 fall to work upon the fly and carry it home. It 

 is not likely that ants can converse as human be- 

 ings can, that they can call each other by name, or 

 recite verses or tell fairy stories, for their sense of 

 hearing does not seem to be very well developed ; 

 but without any doubt they have a language with- 

 out words that answers the purpose of making their 

 wants known to each other, and of telling each other 

 such things as are necessary to the comfort and safety 

 of the community in which they dwell. 



Human beings think that seeing, hearing, and 

 feeling are the most important of the senses. If a 

 person can not see, that person is blind ; if he can not 



