INVERTEBRATA, CRYPTOGAMIA, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 557 



along the first leg, the second and third in the same manner, around 

 the abdomen, and thence up the other side of the ant to the head. A 

 third ant approaches and joins in the friendly task, but soon abandons 

 the field to the original cleanser. The attitude of the cleansed all 

 this while is one of intense satisfaction, quite resembling that of a 

 family dog when one is scratching the back of his neck. The insect 

 stretches out her limbs, and as her friend takes them successively into 

 hand, yields them, limp and supple, to her manipulation; she rolls 

 gently over upon her side, even quite over upon her back, and, with 

 all her limbs relaxed, presents a perfect picture of muscular surrender 

 and ease. The pleasure which the creature takes in being thus 

 " combed " and " sponged " is really enjoyable to the observer. He 

 had seen au ant kneel down before another, and thrust forward the 

 head, drooping quite under the face, and lie there motionless, thus 

 expressing as plainly as sign-language could her desire to be cleansed. 

 He understood the gesture, and so did the supplicated ant, for she at 

 once went to work. 



The ants engaged in cleansing their own bodies have various 

 modes of operating. The fore-legs are drawn between the mandibles, 

 and, as far as could be ascertained, also through or along the lips, and 

 then are passed alternately back of the head, over and down the fore- 

 head aud face by a motion which closely resembles that of a cat when 

 cleansing with her paw the corresponding part of her head. Some- 

 times but one side of the head is cleansed, in which case the foot used 

 is drawn through the mandibles or across the teeth of one mandible 

 after every two or three strokes upon the face. These strokes are 

 always made downward, following thus the direction of the hairs. 

 The liairs upon the tibia aud the tarsus seem to serve the purpose of 

 a brush or comb, and he had thought that the object in drawing the 

 leg through the teeth or between the mandibles is to straighten 

 up the hairs, and thus increase their efficiency for service. Not 

 only the fore pair, but also the other legs, are passed, as above 

 described, through the mouth. The second and third pairs are 

 also and oftener cleansed by the fore-legs, as follows : The ant 

 throws herself over upon her side, draws up the middle and hind 

 legs, which are interlocked at the tarsi, and then, clasping them 

 with one fore-leg, presses the other downward along the other two. 

 The fore-legs alternate in this motion. When the legs of one side 

 are cleansed, the ant reverses her position and repeats the process. 

 When the anteunse are cleansed, they appear to be taken between the 

 curved spur at the extremity of the tibia aud the tibia itself, as one 

 would clasp an object between the base of the thumb and the hand, 

 and are drawn toward the lip of the flagellum, evidently with some 

 pressure. He had thought that he could notice this spur also used as 

 a brush or scraper, in the general application of the fore-leg to the 

 body. It seems to have an articulation at its junction with the tibia. 

 Evidently moisture is conveyed from the mouth and rubbed upon the 

 abdomen, as evidenced by the glossy appearance, which showed the 

 presence of moisture upon the surface. 



The amount of time devoted to these toilet duties is very great 

 VOL. 11. 2 p 



