152 MODE OF RECOGNITION. 



tainly be in the highest degree improbable, it could 

 not be said to be impossible. In the present case, 

 however, the old ants had absolutely never seen the 

 young ones until the moment when, some days after 

 arriving at maturity, they were introduced into the 

 nest ; and yet in twenty-one cases they were undoubt- 

 edly recognised as belonging to the community. 



It seems to me, therefore, to be established by 

 these experiments that the recognition of ants is not 

 personal or individual; that their harmony is not 

 due to the fact that each ant is individually acquainted 

 with every other member of the community. 



At the same time, the fact that they recognise 

 their friends even when intoxicated, and that they 

 know the young born in their own nest even when 

 they have been brought out of the chrysalis by 

 strangers, seems to indicate that the recognition is not 

 effected by means of any sign or password. 



