CHAP. XV.] IMAGINATION AND VOLITION. 243 



Jiamatd) I placed a little stone on one of them to secure it. The 

 next that approached, as soon as it discovered its situation, ran 

 backwards in an agitated manner, and soon communicated the in- 

 telligence to the others. They rushed to the rescue : some bit at 

 the stone and tried to move it ; others seized the prisoner by the 

 legs, and tugged with such force that I thought the legs would be 

 pulled off but they persevered till they got the captive free. I 

 next covered one up with a piece of clay, leaving only the ends of 

 the antennas projecting. It was soon discovered by its fellows, 

 which set to work immediately, and by biting off pieces of the clay, 

 soon liberated it." 



It is possible, however, that such acts as are above 

 recorded may have been very commonly performed by 

 ' foraging Ants ' on behalf of distressed comrades, though 

 they are not habitual with Ants of other species. It is 

 not at all necessary to believe that any definite communi- 

 cations had, as Mr. Belt suggests, been made to the Ants 

 which came out to help. They may have simply followed 

 their excited companion. Evidence in regard to this latter 

 point, so far as ordinary Ants are concerned, will presently 

 be cited. 



Again, the Social Insects have been said to show signs 

 of Joy, by mutual caresses, when old comrades meet after 

 weeks or months of separation. But careful test experi- 

 ments gave Sir John Lubbock no evidence of this behaviour, 

 either with Bees, Wasps, or Ants. It has been often said 

 that the members of one hive always recognize one another, 

 and that strangers are driven out. This seemed to be true 

 only in part. He found that Bees knew and almost habi- 

 tually returned to their own hive. Occasionally, however, 

 they entered a strange hive, and this without fear or 

 molestation. Ants seem to remember each other much 

 better than Bees. Sir John Lubbock found* that strange 

 Ants were not permitted to remain in a nest ; they were, 



* LOG. cit, vol. xiii. pp. 221-237. 



B 2 



