ANT. 45T 



esting question. It does not appear that ants are capable of emit- 

 ting sounds so as to communicate at a distance. The sense of touch 

 is with them the principal medium of conveying impressions to one 

 another. Some of these impressions are communicated by the one 

 striking its head against the corselet of the other ; others by bring- 

 ing their mandibles in contact. The former is the signal of 

 danger ; which is spread with astonishin gquickness through the 

 whole society. During the night, as well as at other times, sentinels 

 are stationed on the outside of their habitations, who on the ap- 

 proach of danger suddenly descend into the midst of the tribe, and 

 spread the alarm on every side ; the whole are soon apprised of 

 the danger; and while the greater number rush forward to repel 

 it, with every expression of displeasure and of rage, the rest, that 

 are attending the eggs and larves, hasten with their charge to places 

 of greater security. The males and females, on the other hand, 

 on being warned of the approaching combat, in which they feel 

 themselves incapable of bearing any active part, fly for shelter to 

 the most retired places in the vicinity. 



Bonnett had imagined, that in their journeys ants directed their 

 course chiefly by the scent remaining in the track which they had 

 before passed. But it appears that they have various other means 

 of finding their way ; and must depend principally on the senses 

 of sight and of touch, aided by the memory of local circumstances. 

 If they should meet with annoyance In their nest, or from any 

 other cause find it inconvenient to remain, they endeavour to 

 find some other spot to which they may remove ; and, for this 

 purpose, the labourers scatter themselves abroad, and reconnoitre 

 in every direction. The ant who has the good fortune to discover 

 a convenient situation returns immediately home, and by certain 

 gestures acquaints her comrades with her success, and points out 

 the direction of the place she has chosen. The migrations of the 

 fallow ants (fourmis fauves) are conducted in a very singular 

 manner. The guide carries another ant in her mouth, to the 

 place to which she intends the colony to remove. Both then re- 

 turn, and each taking up another ant, bring them, in a similar 

 manner, to the new settlement. These, when instructed in the 

 way, return and fetch others ; and this process is continued by 

 all the guides, their numbers increasing in rapid progression till the 

 whole has been transported to the new place of abode. 



