[October, 
440 Our Six-footed Rivals. 
Of the development of a neuter order among vertebrate 
animals, and especially among mankind, we know nothing 
which can be fairly called a trace. But in comparing the 
two civilisations, that of man and that of the ant, we must 
be struck with the faCt that the former has from time to 
time imitated this peculiar feature. The attempts, how- 
ever, whether made by the devotion of certain classes to 
celibacy or by aCtual emasculation, have been as unsuccess- 
ful as the sham elephants of Semiramis. Celibates retaining 
the sexual appetite, but deprived of its legitimate exercise, 
have always been a disturbing force in society. On the 
other hand, emasculation, instead of — as might have been 
perhaps, a priori , anticipated — increasing the powers of body 
and mind, enfeebles both. What would be the moral and 
social effects of the appearance of a neutral form of the 
human species analogous to the working-bee or ant it is 
impossible to foresee; but we may venture to surmise that 
they would not be entirely desirable.* 
It may be suggested that the institution of caste among 
so many human races is an adumbration of the natural 
castes existing among social inseCts, each devoted to some 
especial function. 
The remarkable intelligence of ants has from very early 
ages made a profound impression on man. Cicero consi- 
dered them possessed of “ mind, reason, and memory. ”t 
To the present day those who watch the formicary, not in 
order to defend prepossessions, but to arrive at truth, 
come to the same conclusion, unpopular though it may be. 
We sometimes wonder whether ants, like men, consider 
themselves the sole reasonable beings on the globe, prove 
their position by sound a priori arguments, and accuse those 
who take a different view of “scepticism ” or “agnosticism.” 
When it is no longer possible to meet with a flat denial 
all instances of correct inferences drawn and of happy con- 
trivances adopted by brutes in general and by ants in parti- 
cular, the writers who still claim reason as the exclusive 
prerogative of man bring forward a curious objection : they 
urge that we should likewise collect proofs of animal folly 
and stupidity, and seem to think that these latter instances 
would nullify any conclusion that might be drawn from the 
former. That instances are numerous where some animal 
* It is very remarkable that among the Termites, which though improperly 
called “ white ants ” belong to a different order of inseds, neuters exist. 
These, however, do not appear to be imperfedly developed females. It would 
thus seem that among inseds social organisation necessitates a class of sexless 
individuals. 
f “ Mens, ratio, et memoria.” 
