ANT COMMUNITIES 



rapidly and unanimously in new territory without one 

 estray seemed almost incredible. They were transport- 

 ed to Washington, where a handful of them, with their 

 young, was thrown into an open garden. Without losing 

 a moment's time the wee blind creatures began to form 

 in files, which were fully organized in five minutes. 

 Tapping the ground continually with their antennae, 

 they took up their larvae and moved away in good order, 

 like well -drilled soldiers, reconnoitring the strange 

 region into which they had been cast. Every pebble, 

 plant, crevice was tested with the antennae, and the 

 place best suited for concealing their young was soon 

 found. Most other ants would probably have been an 

 hour in accomplishing this. The experiment was re- 

 peated twice with the same results. 



The marvellous fact in this action is the certainty and 

 quickness with which the "topochemical trail' -to use 

 ForePs phrase and the company relationships were 

 recognized. The groping about, and wandering to and 

 fro, and hesitant mien, common to ants when first placed 

 in strange sites, were wanting. We are prepared, there- 

 fore, to learn that the antennae of these Ecitons are highly 

 developed. And we share the interest of the learned 

 observer who watched the perpetuum mobile of those 

 organs, as in the most lively manner they kept titillating 

 the ground, their companions, and all surrounding 

 objects. 



