Ants. 7 



the poison itself is so intensified in virulence as to 

 act through the skin, a piercing instrument would 

 be of comparatively small advantage. I was 

 amused one day by watching some specimens of a 

 small species of ant, which were feeding on some 

 drops of honey. Some ants of a larger kind were 

 anxious to share the feast, but the moment one 

 approached, the little ones simply threatened them 

 with the tip of their tail, and the large ones imme- 

 diately beat a hasty retreat. In this case the 

 comparatively large kind could certainly have had 

 nothing to fear from physical violence on the part 

 of the little ones. Mere contact with the poison, 

 however, appeared to cause them considerable 

 pain ; and generally the threat alone was sufficient 

 to cause a retreat. 



8. However this may be, in their modes of fight- 

 ing different species of ants have their several pecu- 

 liarities. Some are much less military than others. 

 Myrmecina Latreillii, for instance, never attack, 

 and scarcely even defend themselves. Their skin 

 is very hard, and they roll themselves into a ball, 

 not defending themselves even if their nest is in- 

 vaded ; to prevent which they make the entrances 

 small, and often station at each a worker, who uses 

 her head to stop the way. The scent of this 

 species is also, perhaps, a protection. Tetramorium 

 ccespitum has the habit of feigning death. This 

 species, however, does not roll itself up, but merely 

 applies its legs and antennae closely to the body. 



