EGGS, &C. OF ANTS. 79 
therefore, who in point of tenderness to 
the young committed to their charge, 
do not yield to any of the females of the 
larger animals, pass their tongue and man- 
dibles continually over their bodies, and 
thus render them perfectly white. * The 
* As these insects evince so much attachment to 
the charge committed to their care, I was desirous 
of ascertaining if they would show equal concern 
for the offspring of another species. For this pur- 
pose, I visited a nest inhabited by the little black 
aut, where there were only larve, and removed a 
few to a nest occupied by the yellow ant, containing 
only pupe. Here they lay for a time unnoticed. 
At length, one or two of the ants took them up, 
with the intention of carrying them away, when 
another, who appeared stationed as centinel, ran 
violently against and overthrew them, thus occa 
sioning them to relinquish their hold: this part of 
the nest was at length deserted, the larve were left 
where first deposited, and the centinel retired. At 
this time not a single ant was within view. In 
about five minutes a little troop sallied forth, and, 
as if acting under some general impulse, carried off 
their unwelcome visitors to one of their under- 
ground apartments. Visiting this nest from day to 
day, I never afterwards saw these larve, and there- 
fore, conclude they had been set apart, where, from 
neglect, they had perished. Had the larve been 
brought up in common with those of their own 
family, 1 must have known it; for, as I before said, 
E 4 
