198 THE SPEECH OF MONKEYS. 



to be one of their most conspicuous and reliable 

 landmarks, and every ant that I saw pass in or 

 out during the lapse of weeks passed between 

 these two points. The burdened ant always ap- 

 peared to have the right of way, and when meet- 

 ing another without a burden there was no ques- 

 tion of this right. In such a case the burden 

 was usually held aloft and the right of way 

 conceded without debate. A little later in the 

 season I had the opportunity of seeing the same 

 colony emigrate to a point about eighty feet dis- 

 tant from their original abode, at which time they 

 carried large burdens and were many days in 

 completing their work, but the same system and 

 methods prevailed. 



As far as desire can be found in life the means 

 of expression goes hand in hand with it, but I do 

 not contend that desire alone is the origin of this 

 faculty. So far as human ears can ascertain, the 

 lowest forms of life appear to dwell in perpet- 

 ual silence, but there may be voices yet unheard 

 more eloquent than we have ever dreamed of. 



