60 PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 



tion. 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 communi- 

 cated to them, retreated into the tree as to an asylum. 



The legs of one of this gentleman's artificial formi- 

 caries were plunged into pans of water, to prevent the 

 escape of the ants ; — this proved a soui'ce of great en- 

 joyment to these little beings, for they are a very thirsty 

 race, and lap water like dogs *. One day, when he ob- 

 served many of them tippling very merrily, he was so 

 cruel as to disturb them, which sent most of the ants in 

 a fright to the nest; but some more thirsty than the rest 

 continued their potations. Upon this, one of those that 

 had retreated returns to inform his thoughtless com- 

 panions of their danger ; one he pushes with his jaws; 

 another he strikes first U{)on 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 pull: — upon this, leaving his liquor, the loiterer 

 turns round, and opening his threatening jaws with 

 every appearance of anger, goes very coolly to drinking 

 again ; but his monitor, without further ceremony, rush- 

 ing before him, seizes him by his jaws, and at last drags 

 him off in triumph to the formicary ^. 



The language of ants, however, is not confined mere- 



^ Gould, 92. De Geer ii. 1067. Hiiber, 5, 132. 

 *■ Huber, K?3. 



