66 PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 



seem disposed to assist each other in difficulties. Wlien 

 a burthen is too heavy for one, another will soon come 

 to ease it of part of the weight ; and if one is threatened 

 with an attack, all hasten to the spot, to join in repel- 

 ling it. 



The satisfaction they express at meeting after absence 

 is ver^ striking, and gives some degree of individuality 

 to their attachment. M. Huber witnessed the gesticu- 

 lations of some ants, originally belonging to the same 

 nest, that, having been entirely separated from each other 

 four months, were afterwards brought together. Though 

 this was equal to one-fourth of their existence as perfect 

 insects, they immediately recognised each other, saluted 

 mutually with their antennae, and united once more to 

 form one family. 



They are also ever intent to promote each other's wel- 

 fare, and ready to share with their absent companions 

 any good thing they may meet with. Those that go 

 abroad feed those which remain in the nest ; and if they 

 discover any stock of favourite food, they inform the 

 whole community, as we have seen above, and teach 

 them the way to it. M. Huber, for a particular reason, 

 having produced heat, by means of a flambeau in a cer- 

 tain part of an artificial formicary, the ants that happened 

 to be in that quarter, after enjoying it for a time, hasten- 

 ed to convey the welcome intelligence to their compa- 

 triots, whom they even carried suspended upon their 

 jaws (their usual mode of transporting each other) to the 

 spot, till hundreds might be seen thus laden with their 

 friends. 



If ants feel the force of love, they are equally suscep- 

 tible of the emotions of anger ; and when they are me- 



