ANT COMMUNITIES 



so that, if possible, the mechanical agitation might 

 separate the combatants. The ants emerged quite un- 

 affected by the miniature earthquake, to continue or 

 recommence the fight. When the surface was well 

 covered with them, and the battle was again at its 

 height, a ball of paper saturated with cologne water was 

 introduced into the jar. The ants showed no signs of 

 pain, displeasure, or intoxication under the strong fumes. 

 Some ran freely over the paper. But in a few seconds 

 the warriors had unclasped mandibles, released their 

 hold of enemies' legs, antennae, and bodies, and, after a 

 brief interval of seeming confusion, began to burrow 

 galleries in the earth with the utmost harmony. There 

 was no renewal of the battle. The quondam foes dwelt 

 together for several days in absolute unity and fraternity, 

 amicably feeding, burrowing, and building. 



This experiment was followed by others, varying the 

 conditions and the individuals, but holding to the 

 species. The result was always the same with Tetra- 

 morium ccespitum. The perfume of the cologne proved 

 a complete pacificator of the contending parties, and so 

 far verified the theory. The alien odor neutralized the 

 distnctive nest odors which had served to identify 

 friends and foes, permitting them thus to return to their 

 normal neighborliness ; or in some way had mollified the 

 hostile parties, and transformed them from enemies into 

 amicable associates. 



Similar experiments were tried with colonies of car- 

 penter ants taken from the Alleghany Mountains and 

 from Logan Square, Philadelphia. These pointed to a 

 conclusion just the reverse of the above. Whatever the 

 cause a failure of the experimenter in arranging his 



conditions, or the presence of some disturbing element 



222 



