460 Linmean Society. 



be drawn across one of their tracks, multitudes rapidly congregate 

 about the spot, examining it and sending out runners to explore the 

 vicinity. But if one of them be crushed by the finger and quickly 

 removed, the next comer is instantly arrested in his progress, encir- 

 cles the spot, ascertains the death, and communicates the intelligence 

 with such inconceivable rapidity that the whole line falls into con- 

 fusion, numbers rush to the place, parties set off in pursuit of the 

 offender, and woe to the unfortunate cricket that happens to be 

 found in the vicinity of the track. By degrees the tumult subsides ; 

 for some time afterwards, however, every ant that passes makes a 

 halt, but without quitting the line. Light does not appear to have 

 any effect on their operations ; they are not disturbed by the ap- 

 proach of a candle, although the sliglitest touch of the box instan- 

 taneously effects their complete dispersion ; and the alternations of 

 night and day appear to make no difference in their numbers, per- 

 ceptions, or labour. 



Mr. Daniell was never able positively to ascertain the place of 

 their retreat ; he believes it, however, to have been in the earth 

 below the oven, and is inclined to think that they form a nest, inas- 

 much as they frequently carry off portions of vegetable fibre and 

 even the smaller bones, probably for the purpose of building, as they 

 were always carried off entire, and he could never observe that any 

 portion of a bone was eaten. In consequence of this latter propen- 

 sity he was never able to procure the skeleton of the small species 

 of Gasterosteus, for example, entire, notwithstanding the closest 

 watching. A single ant will carry away a rib of these small fishes ; 

 but in removing a larger bone they act simultaneously, some 

 dragging it forwards and others pushing it on with their heads from 

 behind. If, in ascending the side of the box, the bone fell to the 

 bottom, they returned and recommenced their labour, never abandon- 

 ing an attempt in which they had once engaged. The largest portion 

 of bone which Mr. Daniell has seen them remove, consisted of the 

 ulna and radius of Mus Messorius, with the carpus attached. They 

 appeared more eager in carrying off portions of bone in the months 

 of January and February than at any other period of the year ; but 

 they worked most rapidly in the summer months, and it is astonishing 

 with what celerity and perseverance they continued their labours, 

 the most rapidly cleaned skeletons being always the best and whitest, 

 the periosteum being entirely removed. With such pertinacity do 

 they penetrate every cavity, that, minute as they are, they are 

 frequently victims to the ardour of their attack, becoming fixed, for 

 examjjle, between the plates of the cranium, in the cellular texture 

 of which they may be seen entangled and dead. Although, as before 

 observed, very susceptible of cold, they appear also to be affected 

 by heat ; for in the summer months they were seen to bring forth 

 their pupse, when the oven was heated, from the various apertures 

 in the wall, and place them in a box by the side, in which a supply 

 of provision was always provided for them, and to return with them 

 when the oven was cooled. Myriads of them might in this way be 

 seen heaped together, but a tap on the side of the box caused a 



