62 PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 



through which it can pass below, than it returns to it| 

 companions, and, by means of certain motions of its 

 antennae, makes some of them comprehend Avhat route 

 they are to pursue to find it, sometimes even accom- 

 panying- them to the spot ; these, in their turn, become 

 the guides of others, till all know which way to direct 

 their steps ''. 



It is well known also, that ants give each other in- 

 formation when they have discovered any store of pro- 

 vision. Bradley relates a striking instance of this. 

 A nest of ants in a nobleman's garden discovered a 

 closet, many yards within the house, in which conserves 

 were kept, which they constantly attended till the nest 

 was destroyed. Some in their rambles must have first 

 discovered this depot of svveets, and informed the rest 

 of it. It is remarkable that they always went to it by 

 the same track, scarcely varying an inch from it, though 

 they had to pass through two apartments ; nor could 

 the sweeping and cleaning of tlie rooms discomfit them, 

 or cause them to pursue a different route''. 



Here may be related a very amusing experiment of 

 Gould's. Having deposited several colonies of ants 

 (F.fusco) in flower-pots, he placed them in some earthen 

 pans full of water, which prevented them from making 

 excursions from their nest. When they had been ac- 

 customed some days to this imprisonment, he fastened 

 small threads to the upper part of the pots, and ex- 

 tending them over the water pans fixed them in the 

 ground. The sagacious ants soon found out that by 

 these bridges they could escape from their moated 



* Huber, 137. " Bradley, 134. 



