188 XATURAL HISTORY. 



which, known as the ant-eyg, is given as food to caged 

 birds. Nevertheless it still remains the charge of the 

 faithful workers ; they continue to bring it forth to be 

 warmed in the sunshine ; they carry it back when cloudy 

 to the sheltering anthill. When ready to throw off its 

 enveloping case, they perforate it with their mandibles 

 at one end, assist in freeing the young ant from its tram- 

 mels, and, this accomplished, lead the young stranger 

 through all the labyrinths of the dwelling. 



The males and females never work ; as soon as they 

 have sufficient strength, they swarm like bees, and, for- 

 saking the home of their nativity, fly off in hundreds to 

 delight themselves in the air. After this swarming, the 

 males disperse and perish ; the females throw, or suffer 

 the workers to tear, off their wings, and having arranged 

 a new habitation, begin to lay eggs. 



If closely observed during their busy movements, it 

 will be seen that ants have a language of dumb signs, 

 the organs of which are the antennre with which they 

 touch each other, whenever they meet. If a company 

 of ants are disturbed at a distance from their dwelling, 

 they become very uneasy ; some run to the anthill, and 

 all hasten to escape, but at the same time taking care to 

 save the larvse and pupae. 



If one discovers a lump of sugar, intelligence is at 

 once communicated to the nearest neighbor, and thus 

 passed on throughout the party; in a short time the 

 sweet mass will be covered with a cluster of ants, although 

 by no means lying in their accustomed path. Should 

 their anthill be located in a place too much shaded, or in 

 the neighborhood of enemies, they emigrate in large 

 numbers, and as soon as a suitable spot is selected, pre- 

 pare to make a new horns, to which they carry the larvae 



