RELATION BETWEEN ANTS. 149 
riment gave rise to a scene which ap- 
peared conclusive. ‘The greater part of 
the ants immediately ascended the leg of 
the ruche ; a few, however, remained, 
whom my presence had not alarmed, and 
who continued carousing. But one 
of those who had regained the rwche, 
came back and approached one of its 
companions, who appeared fully absorbed. 
in the pleasure of drinking; it pushed it 
with its mandibles several times succes- 
sively, raising and lowering its head al- 
ternately, and at length succeeded in 
driving it off The officious ant then 
reached another, who was engaged in the 
same office, and endeavoured to drive it 
off also, by striking the abdomen behind ; 
but seeing that it did not appear to, or 
would not, understand its meaning, it 
approached the corslet, and gave it two 
or three blows with the end of its 
mandibles. The ant, being at length 
apprised of the necessity of withdrawing, 
passed precipitately to the bell-glass; a 
third, warned in the same manner, and 
H 3 
