62 A NATURALIST IN HIMALAYA 



covcry is suitable for storaj^e and finding the removal 

 of it beyond its own weak efforts, hastens off to the 

 nest in j^reat excitement and by the shortest route. 

 It meets another worker on its path ; their antennae 

 meet ; the second worker is imbued with the enthusiasm 

 of the first, has received information of the discovery 

 and hastens off to the insect. A third, a fourth, 

 and possibly more workers are similarly informed 

 on the route and all hurry away to lend their assistance. 

 But the excited discoverer hastens on to the nest. 

 Now it has reached the entrance. It enters and is 

 lost to view. In a few seconds a swarm of rushing, 

 bustling and excited ants, led by a number of ferocious 

 soldiers, come dashino- headlono- from the nest. From 

 the way they are all lying in readiness just within the 

 door and emerge at the same moment in one body 

 as though they were awaiting a call for aid, I 

 have no doubt but that these ants so divide their 

 labour that certain workers are detailed for the 

 duty of discovering food, and others, under the 

 guidance of the soldiers, are under orders to remain 

 in permanent readiness within the door of the nest 

 to hurry out and render assistance when news arrives 

 that a discovery has been made. 



The news has come. Out they swarm in a dense 

 throng preceded by the soldiers. Without the slight- 

 est hesitation they hurry over the ground, passing and 

 repassing one another in their excited haste. In 

 amongst the stones, round the fallen leaves and 

 stems of grass they retrace the track of the discoverer. 

 They have reached the caterpillar. Round about 

 it they collect in a struggling and ferocious swarm. 

 They cluster over it in hundreds, cling into its 



