556 RECORD OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 



with a foreign and common odour, would have the tendency to confuse 

 the ants, and disturb or destroy their power of recognition ; in which 

 case he conjectured that the result might be their pacification and 

 reconciliation. He therefore made the following tests. 



He introduced into a jar, in which he had placed (with some soil) a 

 number of combatants whom he found engaged in battle (" pavement " 

 ants), a pellet of paper saturated with eau de Cologne, the battle being 

 then again at its height. The effect was instantaneous. The ants showed 

 no signs of pain, displeasure, or intoxication — indeed, some ran freely 

 over the paper, but in a very few seconds the warriors had unclasped 

 mandibles, released their hold of enemies' legs, antennas, and bodies, 

 and after a momentary confusion, began to burrow galleries in the 

 earth with the utmost harmony. On the part of some there was the 

 appearance of thus escaping from the artificial odour, but there was 

 no renewal of the battle, and the quondam foes lived together for 

 several days in harmony. Thus the perfume proved an eminent 

 pacificator, and so far verified the theory. A second and a third 

 experiment was tried, with the like results. 



Attention was next directed to the " carpenter " ants, and a similar 

 series of experiments made, the results of which did not, however, at 

 all agree with the previous ones, the perfume having no effect in pre- 

 venting the decapitation of alien ants introduced into the nests. 



Mr. McCook hopes, when a favourable opportunity again presents, 

 to continue this line of observation. The results are put on record, 

 inconclusive as they appear, not only because they seem to be in them- 

 selves interesting and valuable, but in order to stimulate the inquiry 

 among others in the same direction, and to invite suggestions and 

 information which other observers may be able to furnish. 



Toilet Habits of Ants.* — The Eev. H. C. McCook also states that 

 the Agricultural Ant (and the remark ajjplies to all other ants with which 

 he was acquainted) is one of the neatest creatures in her personal habits. 

 The whole body is frequently and thoroughly cleansed, a duty which 

 is habitually attended to upon eating and after sleep. In this process 

 the ants assist one another, and it is an exceedingly interesting sight 

 which is presented to the observer when this general " washing up " 

 is in progress. 



The operation is conducted as follows. The ant to whom the 

 friendly office is being administered (the cleansed, she may be called) is 

 leaning over upon one side as we begin the observation. The cleanser 

 (as we may name the other party) is in the act of lifting the fore-leg, 

 which is licked, the mouth passing steadily from the tarsus up to the 

 body ; next the neck is licked, then the prothorax, then the head. 

 The cleanser now leaves, and the cleansed begins to operate uijon her- 

 self as hereafter described. This process may be seen throughout the 

 entire group. We take another couple. The cleanser has begun at 

 the face, which is licked thoroughly, even the mandibles being cared 

 for, they being held apart for convenient manipulation. From the 

 face the cleanser passes to the thorax, thence to the haunch, and so 



* 'Proo. Acarl. Nat. Sci. Thila.,' 1878, p. IIJ). 



