ENTOMOLOGICAL. 69 



into the woods through which they were passing, when, 

 presently, to the driver's surprise, the big-headed brute re- 

 turned with a huge branch of a tree, which he had broken 

 off, using it to thrash his fellow, who would not do his share 

 of pulling the load over the road they had been passing. 



In all the remarkable stories told by Sir John Lub- 

 bock about ants, and which he has kindly authorized me 

 to repeat, I know of nothing in reference to instinct that 

 can surpass the following. I can fully believe the truth- 

 fulness of the story, however incredible it may appear, 

 having witnessed a similar scene in my own garden. I 

 take it from the cutting of a periodical sent me by an 

 anonymous friend, who only wrote outside, "From one 

 interested in your lectures." It is headed 



"FUNERALS AMONG ANTS. 



" There are ants which bury their dead, a fact which 

 was discovered by accident. A lady had been obliged to 

 kill some ants, the bodies of which lay about on the 

 ground. Presently a single ant found its dead com- 

 panions, and examined them and then went off. Presently 

 it returned with a number of others, and proceeded to 

 the dead bodies. Four ants went to each corpse, two 

 lifting it up, and the other two following, the main body, 

 some two hundred in number, following behind. 



" The four bearers took their office in turns, one pair 

 relieving the other when they were tired. They went 

 straight to a sandy hillock, and there the bearers put 

 down their burdens, and the others began immediately 

 to dig holes. A dead ant was then placed in each grave, 

 and the soil filled in. The most curious part of the pro- 

 ceeding was that some six or seven ants refused to assist 

 in grave-digging, upon which the rest set upon them, 

 and tumbled them unceremoniously into it." 



