PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 32} 



of their habitations, which have been ah'eady noticed: — but, without 

 either of these, I have matter enough to fill the rest of this letter with in- 

 teresting traits, while I endeavour to teach you their language, to develop 

 their affections and passions, and to delineate their virtues, — while I show 

 them to you when engaged in war, and enable you to accompany them 

 both in their military expeditions and in their emigrations, — while I make 

 you a witness of their indefatigable industry and incessant labours, or invite 

 you to be present, during their hours of relaxation, at their sports and 

 amusements. 



That ants, though they are mute animals, have the means of communi- 

 cating to each other information of various occurrences, and use a kind of 

 language which is mutually understood, will appear evident from the 

 following facts. 



If those at the surface of a nest are alarmed, it is wonderful in how short 

 a time the alarm spreads through the whole nest. It runs from quarter to 

 quarter ; the greatest inquietude seems to possess the community ; and they 

 carry with all possible despatch their treasures, the larvte and pupfB, down 

 to the lowest apartments. Amongst those species of ants that do not go 

 much from home, sentinels seem to be stationed at the avenues of their 

 city. Disturbing once the little heaps of earth thrown up at the entrances 

 into the nest of F. flnva, which is of this description, I was struck by ob- 

 serving a single ant immediately come out, as if to see what was the matter, 

 and this three separate times. 



The F. herculanea inhabits the trunks of hollow trees on the Continent 

 (for it has not yet been found in England), upon which they are often 

 passing to and fro. M. Huber observed, that when he disturbed those 

 that were at the greatest distance from the rest, they ran towards them, 

 and, striking their head against them, communicated their cause of fear or 

 anger, — that these, in their turn, conveyed in the same way the intelligence 

 to others, till the whole colony was in a ferment, those neuters which 

 were within the tree running out in crowds to join their companions in 

 the defence of their habitation. The same signals that excited the courage 

 of the neuters produced fear in the males and females, which, as soon as 

 the news of the danger was thus communicated to them, retreated into the 

 tree as to an asylum. 



The legs of one of this gentleman's artificial formicaries were plunged 

 into pans of water, to prevent the escape of the ants ; — this proved a 

 source of great enjoyment to these little beings, for they are a very thirsty 

 race, and lap water like dogs.^ One day, when he observed many of them 

 tip[)ling very merrily, he was so cruel as to disturb them, which sent most 

 of the ants in a fright to the nest ; hut some more thirsty than the rest 

 continued their potations. Upon this, one of those that had retreated re- 

 turns to inform his thoughtless companions of their danger ; one he pushes 

 with his jaws ; another he strikes first upon the belly, and then upon the 

 breast ; and so obliges three of them to leave off their carousing, and march 

 homewards ; but the fourth, more resolute to drink it out, is not to be 

 discomfited, and pays not the least regard to the kind blows with which 

 his compeer, solicitous for his safety, repeatedly belabours him. At length, 

 determined to have his way, he seizes him by one of his hind-legs, and 

 gives him a violent [)ull : — upon this, leaving his liquor, the loiterer turns 



'' Gould, 92. Do Geer. ii. 10G7. Hiibcr, 132. 

 V 



