MOTIONS OF INSECTS. 377 



which the renowned John Gilpin may have some- 

 times been disposed to assume in his famous race 

 through Edmonton. But though the very palpable 

 mistakes committed by Bonnet respecting these very 

 ants* may, perhaps, tend to invalidate his authority 

 with respect to their riding, we have the undoubted 

 testimony of both Gould and Huber for their wrest- 

 lings. ' You may frequently,' says Gould, ' per- 

 ceive one of these ants (Formica riifa, Latr.) run 

 to and fro with a fellow-labourer in his forceps of 

 the same species and colony.' Mr Gould observed, 

 that, after being carried for some time, it was let go 

 in a friendly manner and received no personal injury. 

 This amusement is often repeated, particularly among 

 the hill ants, who are very fond of this sportive 

 exercise. I 



It was amongst the same species, that Huber ob- 

 served similar proceedings, which he has described with 

 his usual minuteness and accuracy. ' I approached,' 

 he says, ' one day to the formicary of wood ants, 

 exposed to the sun and sheltered from the north 

 The ants were heaped upon one another in great 

 numbers, and appeared to enjoy the temperature on 

 the surface of the nest. None of them Avere at work, 

 and the immense multitude of insects presented the 

 appearance of a liquid in the state of ebullition, upon 

 which the eye could scarcely be fixed without diffi- 

 culty ; but when 1 examined the conduct of each 

 ant, I saw them approach one another, moving their 

 antennse with astonishing rapidity, while they patted 

 with a slight movement the cheeks of other ants. 

 After these preliminary gestures which resembled 

 caressing, they were observed to raise themselves 

 upright on their hind legs by pairs, struggle together, 

 seize each other by a mandible, foot, or antenna, and 



* Huber on Ants, pref. and pp. 211 and 233. 

 t Gould on Ants, p. 102, &c. 

 VOL. VI. 32* 



