32 ANTS AND SOME OTHER INSECTS. 



.slightly different purposes, by means of a small number of plastic 

 adaptations or associations, individually interrupted in their con- 

 catenation or vice versa, in the thinking human being both inherited 

 and secondary automatisms are only fragments or instruments in 

 the service of an overwhelming, all-controlling, plastic brain-activ- 

 ity. It may be said incidentally that the relative independence of 

 the spinal chord and of subordinate brain-centers in the lower ani- 

 mals (and even in the lower mammals) as compared with the cere- 

 brum, may be explained in a similar manner if they are compared 

 with the profound dependence of these organs and their functions 

 on the massive cerebrum in man and even to some extent in the 

 apes. The cerebrum splits up and controls its automatisms (divide 

 et imp era}. 



While success visibly heightens both the audacity and tenacity 

 of the ant-will, it is possible to observe after repeated failure or in 

 consequence of the sudden and unexpected attacks of powerful en- 

 emies a form of abulic dejection, which may lead to a neglect of 

 the most important instincts, to cowardly flight, to the devouring 

 or casting away of offspring, to neglect of work, and similar condi- 

 tions. There is a chronically cumulative discouragement in degen- 

 erate ant-colonies and an acute discouragement when a combat is 

 lost. In the latter case one may see troops of large powerful ants 

 fleeing before a single enemy, without even attempting to defend 

 themselves, whereas the latter a few moments previously would 

 have been killed by a few bites from the fleeing individuals. It is 

 remarkable how soon the victor notices and utilises this abulic dis- 

 couragement. The dejected ants usually rally after the flight and 

 soon take heart and initiative again. But they offer but feeble re- 

 sistance, e. g., to a renewed attack from the same enemy on the 

 following day. Even an ant's brain does not so soon forget the 

 defeats which it has suffered. 



In bitter conflicts between two colonies of nearly equal strength 

 the tenacity of the struggle and with it the will to conquer increases 

 till one of the parties is definitively overpowered. In the realm of 

 will imitation plays a great role. Even among ants protervity and 

 dejection are singularly contagious. 



