48 Ants. 



effected a complete desertion by carrying away 

 successively all the ants they found there. In a 

 few days the nest was depopulated. These ants 

 had remained four months without any communi- 

 cation." 



Forel, indeed, regards the movements observed 

 by Huber as having indicated fear and surprise 

 rather than affection ; though he is quite disposed 

 to believe, from his own observations, that ants 

 would recognise one another after a separation of 

 several months. 



1 1. The above observation recorded by Huber was 

 made casually, and he did not take any steps to test 

 it by subsequent experiments. The fact, however, 

 is of so much importance that I determined to make 

 further observations on the subject. In the first 

 place, I may repeat that I have satisfied myself by 

 many experiments, that ants from one community 

 introduced into another, always, be it understood, 

 of the same species, are attacked, and either 

 driven out or killed. It follows, therefore, that as 

 within the nest the most complete harmony pre- 

 vails indeed, I have never seen a quarrel between 

 sister ants they must by some means recognise 

 one another. 



When we consider their immense numbers this 

 is sufficiently surprising ; but that they should 

 recognise one another, as stated by Huber, after a 

 separation of months, is still more astonishing. 



I determined therefore to repeat and extend his 

 observations. 



