PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 61 



turns round, and opening his threatening- jaws with 

 every appearance of anger, goes very coolly to drink- 

 ing again; but his monitor, without further ceremony, 

 rushing before him, seizes him by his jaws, and at last 

 drags him off in triumph to the formicary'*. 



But the language of ants is not confined merely to 

 giving intelligence of the approach or presence of dan- 

 ger ; it is also co-extensive with all their other occasions 

 for communicating their ideas to each other. 



Some, whose extraordinary history I shall soon re- 

 late to you, engage in military expeditions, and often 

 previously send out spies to collect information. These, 

 as soon as they return from exploring the vicinity, enter 

 the nest ; upon which, as if they had communicated 

 their intelligence, the army immediately assembles in 

 the suburbs of their city, and begins its march towards 

 that quarter whence the spies had arrived. Upon the 

 march, communications are perpetually making be- 

 tween the van and the rear ; and when arrived at the 

 camp of the enemy, and the battle begins, if necessary, 

 couriers are dispatched to the formicary for reinforce- 

 ments''. 



If you scatter the ruins of an ant's nest in your 

 apartment, you will be furnished with another proof 

 of their language. The ants will take a thousand dif- 

 ferent paths, each going by itself, to increase the chance 

 of discovery ; they will meet and cross each other in 

 all directions, and perhaps will wander long before 

 they can find a spot convenient for their reunion. No 

 sooner does anyone discover a little chink in the floor, 



' Ilnber, 133. " IWd, 231, '■ill, 167. 



