EFFECT OF LIGHT. 269 



the nest and the rotating table as before, and let out 

 three ants which I had imprisoned on the 19th, and 

 which knew their way. I put them on the larvse at m 

 as before. The paper pathway had been left untouched. 

 The ants examined the larvae and then went straight 

 home along the paper path ; but, to my surprise, only 

 one of them carried off a larva. Nevertheless they 

 had evidently taken the news to the nest, for the ants 

 at once began coming to the cup in considerable num- 

 bers and carrying off the larvae. I do not altogether 

 understand this proceeding, and unluckily had not 

 marked the first three ants ; so that I cannot tell 

 whether they brought or sent their friends. It seems 

 possible that they felt unequal to the exertion of carrying 

 a burthen to the nest until they had had some food. 



When the ants were fairly at work I turned the 

 table 90 degrees. In this case eight ants which were 

 on their way to the larvae continued their march along 

 the paper, while two turned back ; but none left the 

 l^)aper and went across the table straight for the larvae. 



I then stopped the experiment for a while, so that 

 the excitement might subside ; as when the ants 

 become too numerous it is not so easy to watch them. 



When all was quiet I put the cup with the larvse 

 on the middle of the table, and covered the greater 

 part of the table with the box as before. In a short 

 time some ants again came to the larvae, and then, 

 just as they were leaving the cup on their way home, I 

 turned the table, as before, half round. 



Under these circumstances, however, instead of 



