every ant fell into line
and went in the exact path of the others, which rarely exceeded in any
case more than an eighth of an inch in width. Whenever an ant would lose
its way it would lift its head high into the air, look around, and then
turn almost at right angles from the course it was pursuing towards the
path of the others. In scores of cases I observed that the outward-bound
ant, when it had been lost and returned to the path, always came on the
homeward side of the landmark and passed out. On the other hand, if a
homeward-bound ant was lost it would approach from the outward side of
the landmark and pass in. About five feet from the ground were two
small, round knots, about one-eighth of an inch in height, and a space
between them of about the same width. This appeared 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 appeared to have the right of way, and when meeting
another without a burden there was no question 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 distant
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 go 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 appeared to dwell in perpetual silence, but there may be voices yet
unheard, more eloquent than we have ever dreamed of.

CHAPTER XXV.

Facts and Fancies of Speech--Language in the Vegetable
Kingdom--Language in the Mineral Kingdom.

In the early part of this work I have recorded the material and tangible
facts with which I have dealt, and have not departed from such facts to
formulate a theory beyond a working hypothesis. I have not allowed
myself to be transported into the realm of fancy, nor have I claimed for
my work anything which lies beyond the bounds of proof. But in the wide
range through which I have sought for the first hint of speech, it is
only natural that many theories have suggested themselves to me from
time to time, some of which woul