320 HABITS AND INSTINCTS OP ANIMALS. CHAP. 31. 



the common nest for four months, and then brought 

 them together. He describes their gesticulations as 

 very amusing ; and affirms that the two parties imme- 

 diately recognised each other, mutually saluted by 

 touching their antennae, and united again in the same 

 nest. M. Latreille, also, upon one occasion, " cut off 

 the antennae of an ant ; upon which its companions, 

 evidently pitying its sufferings, anointed the wounded 

 member with a drop of transparent fluid from their 

 mouth." These facts evidently show a recollection of 

 former companions, and a compassionate love of such 

 as stand in need of assistance. That they communicate 

 to each other the discovery of any favourite food, has 

 been already seen ; and that they will do the same on 

 occasions where pleasure only is to be enjoyed, is proved 

 by the following experiment of M. Huber : On one 

 occasion, he produced an additional degree of heat in a 

 part of one of his nests, by means of a torch ; the ants, 

 who happened to be in that quarter, after enjoying it 

 for a time, hastened to convey the welcome intelligence 

 to their companions, whom they were so desirous 

 should share in the pleasure, that they carried them 

 upon their jaws (their usual mode of transporting each 

 other) to the spot, till hundreds might be seen thus 

 laden with their friends.* 



(325.) The ants are no less extraordinary as a war- 

 like than as a social race. Like most other insects 

 belonging to the same order, they are capable of in- 

 flicting a venomous sting, and their strong toothed jaws 



amazingly large and powerful, in comparison to the 

 size of the body render them formidable to the 

 insect world. To these offensive and defensive wea- 

 pons they add the most determined and heroic courage : 

 they turn not from an enemy, be he large or small, 



a mite or an elephant, nor will these pigmy 

 heroes be daunted by man himself. We have before 

 apprised the reader, that the labourers, in this family, 

 likewise perform the duties of soldiers ; for the males 



* Int. to Ent vol. ii. p. 67. 



