LANGUAGE AND SCIENCE 193

We have quoted this passage as a typical example of

increasing unconscious exaggeration. A dozen ants in

proximity are first called "a sort of assembly." Now any

creatures which happen to come together in close proximity

may, in a certain vague sense, be said to assemble ; but the

word " assembly " implies more than that. This implication

is further intensified by the declaration that the ants

" appeared to be in consultation," though no fact in addition

to physical proximity is given as justifying such a purely

fanciful interpretation. Finally, the implication is driven

home by calling these physically approximated ants "a

conclave." If those who narrate things of this kind would

content themselves with accurately describing the facts they

witness, the gain would be great indeed.

Such an account has been given* by one careful observer,

Mr. G. Larden. He tells us of a small South American

species of ant which makes a large nest underground with a

network of paths converging to the nest. " These paths," he

says, " are of all lengths, from 10 yards up to 100 yards. As-

a general rule, one may say that streams of ants, carrying

leaves, buds, flowers, seeds, and other valuable odds and ends,

are always moving towards the nest, while empty-mouthed

ants are meeting and passing them on their outward journey

to the foraging grounds." He then tried the experiment of

turning sojne of these laden home-going carriers round, when

they had nearly reached home. "The general conclusion

I came to," he continues, " was that these ants did not then

understand in what direction the nest lay, nor did they (as

far as I could see) draw any conclusions from the fact that

they now met the stream of carriers with which they

had previously been travelling. Thus, one ant carrying a

(relatively) huge burden I reversed in direction when already

near the nest. I then followed it for about eight yards (or

* In Nature for May 29th, 1890, p. 115.

O

We have quoted this passage as a typical example of

increasing unconscious exaggeration. A dozen ants in

proximity are first called "a sort of assembly." Now any

creatures which happen to come together in close proximity

may, in a certain vague sense, be said to assemble ; but the

word " assembly " implies more than that. This implication

is further intensified by the declaration that the ants

" appeared to be in consultation," though no fact in addition

to physical proximity is given as justifying such a purely

fanciful interpretation. Finally, the implication is driven

home by calling these physically approximated ants "a

conclave." If those who narrate things of this kind would

content themselves with accurately describing the facts they

witness, the gain would be great indeed.

Such an account has been given* by one careful observer,

Mr. G. Larden. He tells us of a small South American

species of ant which makes a large nest underground with a

network of paths converging to the nest. " These paths," he

says, " are of all lengths, from 10 yards up to 100 yards. As-

a general rule, one may say that streams of ants, carrying

leaves, buds, flowers, seeds, and other valuable odds and ends,

are always moving towards the nest, while empty-mouthed

ants are meeting and passing them on their outward journey

to the foraging grounds." He then tried the experiment of

turning sojne of these laden home-going carriers round, when

they had nearly reached home. "The general conclusion

I came to," he continues, " was that these ants did not then

understand in what direction the nest lay, nor did they (as

far as I could see) draw any conclusions from the fact that

they now met the stream of carriers with which they

had previously been travelling. Thus, one ant carrying a

(relatively) huge burden I reversed in direction when already

near the nest. I then followed it for about eight yards (or

* In Nature for May 29th, 1890, p. 115.

O