80 TWO CHAPTERS ON ANTS. 



antennae, but no fighting, and soon all are 

 working harmoniously together. I found 

 three half -drowned, chilled ants near the 

 mound from which most of the inhabitants 

 of the jar were taken. One was not only 

 wet and chilled, but also covered with sand. 

 These I put 011 a small leaf and placed in 

 the centre of the jar. The genial warmth 

 soon revived them. Many of their old com- 

 panions clustered arouud them, aud there 

 seemed to be considerable consultation. The 

 two wet ants were soon made welcome, and, 

 leaving the leaf, were conducted by their 

 comrades from whom they had been sep- 

 arated for more than two mouths to the 

 rooms below. But the one covered with 

 sand a major did not meet with so kind- 

 ly a reception. She still remained on the 

 leaf trying to cleanse herself. All the ants 

 had leffc her save one, who was determined 

 to quarrel with her. I removed this one, 

 and now another came up, bit at her and 

 annoyed her until I removed this one also. 

 Then some half dozen congregated about 

 the leaf, touching her with, their antennas 

 and walking round her. By this time she 

 was nearly free from the sand, and was look- 

 ing quite bright, strutting about the leaf in 

 a threatening attitude, with her mandibles 



