106 INSTANCES OF KINDNESS TO FRIENDS. 



ants of this nest came to feed, I placed as before two 

 small bottles, closed in the same way — one containing 

 two slave ants from the nest, the other two strangers. 

 These ants, however, behaved quite unlike the pre- 

 ceding, for they took no notice of either bottle, and 

 showed no sign either of affection or hatred. One is 

 almost tempted to surmise that the warlike spirit of 

 these ants was broken by slavery. 



The other nest which I tried, also a community of 

 Formica fusca, behaved exactly like the first. They 

 took no notice of the bottle containing the friends, but 

 clustered round and eventually forced their way into 

 that containing the strangers. 



It seems, therefore, that in these curious insects 

 hatred is a stronger passion than affection. 



Some of those who have done me the honour 

 of noticing my papers have assumed that I disputed 

 altogether the kindly feelings which have been attri- 

 buted to ants. I should, however, be very sorry to 

 treat my favourities so unfairly. So far as I can observe, 

 ants of the same nest never quarrel. I have never 

 seen the slightest evidence of ill-temper in any of my 

 nests : all is harmony. Nor are instances of active 

 assistance at all rare. Indeed, I have myself witnessed 

 various cases showing care and tenderness on their part. 



In one of my nests of Formica fusca was an ant 

 which had come into the world without antennae. 

 Never having previously met with such a case, I 

 watched her with great interest ; but she never ap- 



