54 A NATURALIST IN HIMALAYA 



old one becomes overpopulated. It is possible, though 

 this is only a conjecture, that, as the season advances 

 and the nest is densely thronged from the development 

 of many workers, it becomes essential for the com- 

 munity to expand and found new colonies elsewhere. 

 One or more workers proceed on a voyage of dis- 

 covery and thoroughly explore the vicinity of the 

 nest. Having found a crevice suitable for the estab- 

 lishment of a colony, the worker returns to the old 

 nest and lays the foundation of the new home by 

 transferring workers one by one in its jaws until 

 sufficient have been carried off to relieve the con- 

 gestion in the old nest and lay the foundation of the 

 new colony. This, I think, is one method by which 

 this species increases its geographical range, though 

 the process is undoubtedly a remarkable one. How- 

 ever, after having hundreds of times seen workers 

 transferred from place to place by their companions 

 for no apparent purpose, I was interested to observe 

 at last worker carry worker for the achievement of a 

 definite object. 



It is difficult to read the accounts of the habits of 

 ants as observed by our greatest naturalists without 

 feeling some faith in the power of intelligence so often 

 ascribed to these insects. I could see little of such 

 high mental powers in the life of the harvesters, and, 

 in my account of their activities, I have dwelt more 

 on their folly than on their reason. But I look with 

 another eye on this species, for I once carefully 

 observed a wonderful act, which, unless I make a 

 grievous error, I must consider a manifestation of real 

 intelligence. 



On a qool dry evening I discovered a nest of this 



