60 PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 



ran towards them, and, striking their head against them, 

 communicated their cause of fear or anger, — that these, 

 in their turn, conveyed in the same way the intelligence 

 to otliers, till the whole colony was in a ferment, those 

 neuters which were within the tree running out in 

 crowds to join their companions in the defence of their 

 habitation. The same signals that excited tlie courage 

 of the neuters produced fear in the males and females, 

 which, as soon as the news of the danger was thus 

 communicated to them, retreated into the tree as to an 

 asylum. 



The lesfs of one of this gentleman's artificial formi- 

 caries were plunged into pans of water, to prevent the 

 escape of the ants ; — this proved a source of great en- 

 joyment to these little beings, for they are a very thirsty 

 race, and lap water like dogs'*. One day, when he ob- 

 served many of them tippling very merrily, he was so 

 cruel as to disturb them, which sent most of the ants 

 in a fright to the nest ; but some more thirsty than the 

 rest continued their potations. Upon this, one of those 

 that had retreated returns to inform his thoughtless 

 companions of their danger : one he pushes with his 

 jaws ; another he strikes first upon the belly, and then 

 upon the breast ; and so obliges three of them to leave 

 off their carousing, and march homewards ; but the 

 fourth, more resolute to drink it out, is not to be discom- 

 fited, and pays not the least regard to the kind blows with 

 which his compeer, solicitous for his safety, repeatedly 

 belabours him : — at length, determined to have his way, 

 he seizes him by one of his hind-legs, and gives him a 

 laolent pull : — upon this, leaving his liquor, the loitei'er 

 » Goi'klj92, DcGcer, ii. 10G7. Hubcr,5, 132. 



