TOUCH. ^87 



subject are exceedingly curious.* He remarks 

 that the signal denoting the apprehension of 

 danger, is made by the ant striking its head 

 against the corselet of every ant which it chances 

 to meet. Each ant, on receiving this intima- 

 tion, immediately sets about repeating the 

 same signal to the next ant which comes in its 

 way ; and the alarm is thus disseminated with 

 astonishing rapidity throughout the whole so- 

 ciety. Sentinels are at all times stationed on 

 the outside of the nests, for the purpose of 

 apprizing the inhabitants of any danger that 

 may be at hand. On the attack of an enemy, 

 these guardians quickly enter into the nest, and 

 spread the intelligence on every side : the whole 

 swarm is soon in motion, and while the greater 

 number of ants rush forwards with desperate 

 fury to repel the attack, others who are entrusted 

 with the office of guarding the eggs and the 

 larvae, hasten to remove their charge to places of 

 greater security. 



When the queen bee is forcibly taken away 

 from the hive, the bees which are near her at 

 the time, do not soon appear sensible of her ab- 

 sence, and the labours of the hive are carried on 

 as usual. It is seldom before the lapse of an 

 hour, that the working-bees begin to manifest 

 any symptoms of uneasiness : they are then 

 * See his " Recherches sur les moeurs des fourmis indigenes." 



