64 A NATURALIST IN HIMALAYA 



off to their nest the fragments of stone and grass 

 under the impression that they are actually edible sub- 

 stances, though in reality they have been only moistened 

 externally with the animal juices. I was surprised 

 to find that a group of insects possessed of such 

 remarkable instincts should have been so hopelessly 

 misled as to confound animal tissues with stones. 



But I must return to their power of communication 

 by virtue of which a single ant can inform the nest 

 of its discovery of prey, can launch the awaiting 

 army to the attack, and can, if necessary, return again 

 and again to call successive reinforcements to its 

 aid. This, I think, is a true communication, a real 

 transfer of information from one ant to the remainder 

 of the body, and as a consequence of which, a distinct 

 series of activities result. Wonderful as is the instinct 

 of communication and essential as it is to the life 

 of the community, yet like every instinct it is imperfect 

 and capable of confusion. I gave a dead insect to 

 a worker. The busy little creature hurried back with 

 the news of its discovery and in a few moments the 

 swarm came rushing to the scene. I then removed 

 the insect, and the ants, finding nothing, returned to 

 the nest. I then placed the insect on the opposite 

 side of the nest. A worker soon discovered it and 

 brought back the news. Again the swarm issued 

 from the nest, but confusion almost at once followed. 

 Many ants hurried along the correct track and found 

 the insect, but others, as though still confused by 

 the memory of their previous exit, hastened to the 

 spot where the insect was first placed and searched 

 for it in vain. On another occasion I have observed 

 the instinct so confused and the swarm so lost in its 



