26 THE XATUEALIST IX XICAEAGUA. [Ch. II. 



found, contrary to my expectation, that they could give 

 a severe bite with them, and that it was difficult to 

 withdraw the jaws from the skin again. 



One clay when watching a small column of these ants, 

 I placed a little stone on one of them to secure it. The 

 next that approached, as soon as it discovered its situa- 

 tion, ran backwards in an agitated manner, and soon 

 communicated the intelligence to the others. They 

 rushed to the rescue, some bit at the stone and tried to 

 move it, others seized the prisoner by the legs, and 

 tugged with such force that I thought the legs would be 

 pulled off, but they persevered until they got the 

 captive free. I next covered one up with a piece of 

 clay, leaving only the ends of its antenna projecting. 

 It was soon discovered bv its fellows, which set to work 



/ * 



immediately, and by biting off pieces of the clay, soon 

 liberated it. Another time I found a very few of them 

 passing along at intervals. I confined one of these under 

 a piece of clay, at a little distance from the line, with 

 his head projecting. Several ants passed it, but at last 

 one discovered it and tried to pull it out, but could not. 

 It immediately set off at a great rate, and I thought it 

 had deserted its comrade, but it had onlv gone for 



*/ Cy 



assistance, for in a short time about a dozen ants came 

 hurrying up, evidently fully informed of the circum- 

 stances of the case, for they made directly for their 

 imprisoned comrade, and soon set him free. I do not 

 see how this action could be instinctive. It was sympa- 

 thetic help, such as man only among the higher mam- 

 malia shows. The excitement and ardour with which 

 they carried on their unflagging exertions for the rescue 

 of their comrade could not have been greater if they had 



