MOTIONS OF INSECTS. 377 



the renowned John Gilpin may have sometimes 

 been disposed to assume in his famous race through 

 Edmonton. But though the very palpable mis- 

 takes 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 rufa, 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 ex- 

 ercise, "f 



It was amongst the same species, that Huber ob- 

 served similar proceedings, which he has described 

 with his usual minuteness and accuracy. " I ap- 

 proached," he says, " one day to the formicary of 

 W'ood-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 were 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 

 difficulty ; but when I examined the conduct of each 

 ant, I saw them approach one another, moving their 

 antennae with astonishing rapidity, while they patted 

 with a «light 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 ])p. 211 and 233. 

 I Gould on Ants. p. 102, ike. 



