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LETTER XVII. 
SOCIETIES OF INSECTS — continued. t 
PERFECT SOCIETIES. (WHITE ANTS AND ANTS.) 
THE associations of insects of which my last letter gave you a detail were 
of a very imperfect kind, both as to their object and duration: but those 
which I am now to lay before you exhibit the semblance of a nearer 
approach, both in their principle and its results, to the societies of man 
himself. There are two kindred sentiments that in these last act with 
most powerful enerzy—desire and affection. From the first proceed many 
wants that cannot be satisfied without the intercourse, aid, and co-opera- 
tion of others; and by the last we are impelled to seek the good of certain 
objects, and to delight in their society. Thus self-love combines with 
philanthropy to produce the social principle, both desire and love alter- 
nately urging us to an intercourse with each other; and from these in 
union originate the multiplication and preservation of the species. These 
two passions are the master-movers in this business ; but there is a third 
subsidiary to them, which, though it trenches upon the social principle, 
considered abstractedly, is often a powerful bond of union in separate 
societies—you will readily perceive that I am speaking of fear ;—under 
the influence of this passion these are drawn closer together, and unite 
more intimately for defence against some common enemy, and to raise 
works of munition that may resist his attack. 
The main instrument of association is language, and no association can 
be perfect where there is not a common tongue. The origin of nationality 
was difference of speech: at Babel, when tongues were divided, nations 
separated. Language may be understood in a larger sense than to signify 
inflections of the voice, —it may well include all the means of making 
yourself understood by another, whether by gestures, sounds, signs, or 
words ; the first two of these kinds may be called natural language, and the 
last two arbitrary or artificial. , 
Ihave said that perfect societies of insects exhibit the semlance of a 
nearer approach, both in their principle and its results, to the societies of 
man himself, because, unless we could perfectly understand what instinct 
is, and how it acts, we cannot, without exposing ourselves to the charge of 
temerity, assert that these are precisely the same. 
But when we consider the object of these societies, the preservation 
and multiplication of the species, and the means by which that object is 
attained, the united labours and co-operation of perhaps millions of indi- 
viduals, it seems as if they were impelled by passions very similar to those 
main-springs of human associations which I have just enumerated. Desire 
appears to stimulate them —love to allure them — fear to alarm them. 
They want a habitation to reside in, and food for their subsistence. Does 
