88 ANIMAL INTELLIGENCE. 



saw these ants on a fine day assembled on the surface of their 

 nest, and behaving in a way that he could only explain as 

 simulating festival sports or other games. They raised them- 

 selves on their hind legs, embraced each other with their fore- 

 legs, seized each other by the antennae, feet, or mandibles, and 

 wrestled — but all in friendliest fashion. They then let go, ran 

 after each other, and played hide-and-seek. When one was 

 victorious, it seized all the others in the ring, and tumbled them 

 over like ninepins. 



This account of Huber's found its way into many popular 

 books, but in spite of its clearness won little credence from the 

 reading public. ' I found it hard to believe Huber's obser- 

 vation,' writes Forel, ' in spite of its exactness, until I myself 

 had seen the same.' A colony of the pratensis several times 

 gave him the opportunity when he approached it carefully. 

 The players caught each other by the feet or jaws, rolled over 

 each other on the ground like boys playing, pulled each other 

 inside the entrances of their nest, only to come out again, and so 

 on. All this was done without bad temper, or any spurting of 

 poison, and it was clear that all the rivalry was friendly. The 

 least breath from the side of the observer was enough to put an 

 end to the games. ' I understand,' continues Forel, Hhat the 

 afiair must seem marvellous to those who have not seen it, 

 especially when we remember that sexual attraction can here 

 play no part.' 



MacCook also gives an account of habits of play as in- 

 dulged in among ants of the other Hemisphere : — 



At one formicary half a dozen or more young queens were 

 out at the same time. They would climb up a large pebble 

 near the gate, face the wind, and assume a rampant posture. 

 Several having ascended the stone at one time, there ensued a 

 little playful passage-at-arms as to position. They nipped each 

 other gently with the mandibles, and chased one another from 

 favourite spots. They, however, never nipped the workers. 

 These latter evidently kept a watch upon the sportive prin- 

 cesses, occasionally saluted them with their antennse in the 

 usual way, or touched them at the abdomen, but apparently 

 allowed them full liberty of action. 



As to leisure, Bates writes : — 



The life of these Ecitons is not all work, for I frequently saw 

 them very leisurely employed in a way that looked like recre- 



