96 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



while twenty-seven went over (h') to the empty tray. Taking 

 these observations altogether, out of one hundred and fifty 

 ants which came to the end of the strip of paper (h), and 

 thus within two inches of the larvae, only twenty-one took 

 then the right turn, and arrived at their destination. These 

 experiments, therefore, certainly seem to show that when 

 ants flock to a treasure of food, which one of them has 

 discovered, they either accompany one another or else track it 

 out by scent. The fact, therefore, is by no means an evidence 

 of any high intelligence, or any complex system of communica- 

 tion, but is merely an instance of instinct, little higher than 

 that which is found in other social animals. On the other 

 hand, that some higher power of communication does exist, 

 seems, however, to be obvious from some of the facts 

 recorded in Sir John's previous paper. In the latter part of 

 his present paper the author narrated a variety of experi- 

 ments on the senses of ants, and on their power of recognising 

 friends. A lively discussion followed the reading of the 

 paper, — 'Nature,' March '2, 1876. 



The Doubleday Collection of British Lepidoptera. — The 

 terms proposed by the Trustees of the Doubleday Collection, 

 and agreed to by the Directors of the South Kensington 

 Museum, are — (1) That the Collection shall be lent for a period 

 of five years, after which the Trustees shall have the right of' 

 resuming possession of it. (2) That it shall be kept separate 

 and undivided, and called the " Doubleday Collection." (3) 

 That it shall be open to the public at all reasonable times, 

 under the care of the attendant; and that due care shall be 

 taken for the protection and preservation of the specimens. 

 (4) That as soon as possible after it has been deposited in 

 the Museum, a Catalogue, specifying the number of each 

 species, &c., shall be made, a copy of vvhich Catalogue shall 

 be furnished to the Trustees. The Bethnal Green AJuseum 

 is a branch of the South Kensington, The Collection has 

 been safely deposited at the Bethnal Green Museum for 

 about a month. It is at present in one of the lower rooms, 

 near Lane Fox's collection ; but, so soon as arrangements 

 have been made for the proper exhibition of the insects, it 

 will be brought up. It has been inspected by several 

 entomologists during the month. — Edward Neivman; 7, York 

 Grove, Peckham, March 18, 1876. 



