Examination of Some Objections. 65 



spider on one side of the track. They approached the 

 nest to a distance of about half a yard, when they sud- 

 denly changed the direction and moved away from the 

 nest. This seemed to suit the wishes only of one ant, 

 for the other tried in vain to pull the spider in the 

 opposite direction. Finally they reached a consider- 

 able distance from the colony when the second ant let 

 go and made off, whilst the first continued to move 

 farther away with her booty. This singular procedure 

 aroused my suspicion, when lo! suddenly three ants 

 came rushing to the rescue, assailed their selfish 1 com- 

 panion and tried to drag the dead spider in the direction 

 of the nest. Thereupon the thievish ant redoubled her 

 efforts and, for a moment, succeeded in offering effect- 

 ive resistance. But at last the three police ants got the 

 better of her. Having abandoned her prey, the thief 

 remained alone and ran aimlessly to and fro, whereas 

 the others were in high spirits on approaching the nest 

 with their booty. Two of the three ants that were so 

 concerned for the welfare of the community soon com- 

 mitted the fat morsel to the care of the third, which 

 dragged it to the nest, where it was speedily received 

 by the crowd. They pulled the dead spider to one of 

 the openings that led into the inner apartments of the 

 large nest. What then followed, escaped the notice of 

 the interested observer. 



"Now, if my interpretation be right, it follows that 

 the ant which was suspected of fraudulent practises, 

 wished, humanly speaking, to set aside some food for 

 her own use without regard for the general interests of 



l ) Italics ours. 



