July 1, 1866.] 



SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



151 



The way these ants carry food, sticks, &c, to their 

 nest, is well known ; but I think few persons are 

 aware that these ever busy ants occasionally allow 

 themselves a holiday, not individually, but the whole 

 community enjoy a day of festival. A fine one was 

 chosen, when all were abroad without employment 

 or work. They passed to and fro, greeting each 

 other evidently in a kindly manner : they touched 

 with their antennae, like one shaking hands, remain- 

 ing a few moments together, as if in friendly con- 

 versation, then passing on, the same ceremony was 

 performed towards other fellow citizens. These 

 proceedings continued until evening. On the 

 following morning they were all at work again. We 

 often threw our lowly companions crumbs of bread, 

 pieces of meat, or grains of wheat. It was curious 

 to see how quickly these gifts were carried away. 

 If part of the offering proved too large for the 

 strength of a single ant to remove, then as many as 

 the load required would instantly offer aid to their 

 overburdened friends, although previously busily 

 engaged themselves. Their readiness to help their 

 neighbours I have admired again and again. Some 

 naturalists attribute this to the supposition that their 

 possessions are in common. If they really are, it is 

 an admirable proof of their willingness to do their 

 duty as citizens of a commonwealth. Well would it 

 be if men, in their transactions with each other, 

 were as disinterested as the insignificant ant. 



Milton writes : — 



" The parsimonious emme', provident of future : 

 In small room large heart enclosed. 

 Pattern of just equality perhaps 

 Hereafter : joined in her popular tribes 

 Of commonality.'' 



My observation led me to conclude these ants are 

 not provident for the future beyond securing a con- 

 venient and warm dwelling, while in a state of tor- 

 pidity. Without this forethought the winter frosts 

 would destroy them. The food so industriously 

 collected during summer is, I think, only for their 

 young, and their own immediate eating. When some 

 of my ants were disinterred during winter, no stores 

 of any kind were discovered. The ants were simply 

 packed together in little heaps, as if waiting for the 

 sun's heat to reanimate them. 



Once, and only once, during many years, I wit- 

 nessed a battle between these creatures, generally so 

 peaceful. It was fought on the wall of the house ; 

 so furious was the struggling and fighting between 

 the opponents, that there could be no doubt of their 

 deadly intentions. The contest lasted the whole 

 day, and the ground beneath was covered with the 

 slain. The following morning the victors were 

 actively engaged in removing the dead. This task 

 performed, their usual occupations were resumed, 

 as if nothing extraordinary had previously occurred. 



I have seen these determined insects attack a large 

 earthworm, probably a quarter of a yard long, and 



its defenceless body so thickly covered with ants 

 that it resembled a piece of dark cord. The poor 

 worm was not quickly killed, the whole mass oc- 

 casionally moved as the victim writhed iu its 

 agony. 



More extraordinary was an attack made by them 

 upon a large unshelled snail, or slug. I was at- 

 tracted to the spot by the strange bubbling noise the 

 snail made in its defence. This was to throw out its 

 slime all over its body so profusely as to cover it 

 with foam ; but to no purpose : the persevering ants 

 vanquished the snail. 



After a time the ants increased greatly. They 

 became so bold as to enter our sitting-rooms, and. 

 chambers. Of course they were troublesome, and 

 the order was reluctantly given for their destruction. 

 Many methods were tried unsuccessfully. They had 

 got so completely into the foundation of the house, 

 that it was impossible to get at them during the 

 winter, when they are in a torpid state. Therefore 

 the tedious and painful one was resorted to of killing 

 them singly. After the slaughter had commenced, 

 it was sad to see the distress of the poor insects, 

 when they discovered their friends had become their 

 foes. Their confiding manner was gone. When 

 they caught sight of us — which they did quickly — 

 they stopt, stood partly erect, and put forth their 

 feelers in an attitude of defence, and darted forth 

 the poisonous fluid, with which we then discovered 

 they were armed. This fluid was a strong acid ; if 

 it fell on the dress or gloves, the colour was instantly 

 changed, or, if on the skin, it raised a blister. The 

 work of extermination lasted nearly the whole 

 summer. When the last day's slaughter was over, 

 there were a few ants left. Whether they died in 

 despair, or left the following morning, we did not 

 discover. I was grieved for the cruel treatment 

 they had received. Had they remained contented 

 on the outside of our dwelling, they would not have 

 been disturbed.— S. C. 



What is the Object ? — " We not unfrequently 

 hear the section of anEchinus spine pronounced "'very 

 pretty, exactly like a crochet pattern,' the Echinus 

 itself being an unknown thing. Spicales of Holo- 

 tharia or Gregorica are brilliant little clubs or crosses, 

 but what a Holotharia is they (many young persons 

 who now purchase microscopes and collect objects) 

 cannot imagine. The foot of a dytiscus, with its 

 cluster of suckers, is like the eye of a peacock's 

 feather; cells of spiral fibre nothing more than 

 coils of variegated wire ; and the head of Rhingia, 

 with its wonderful eyes, is looked at as a beautiful 

 piece of network .... To sit for an hour at the 

 microscope, and pass slide after slide upon the 

 stage with superficial attention, is not a worthy 

 occupation for the great spirit within us."— S. 8 

 Clarke's " Objects for the Microscope^ 



