7612 Insects. 



A Conlribnlion to the Natural History of Ants, not read at the 

 Liuneaii Society. By Fredeeick Smith, Esq. 



The ant, in intelligence, stands in the same relation to the rest of 

 the Invertebrala that man stands in to the rest of the Vertebrata. This 

 opinion is held by more than one naturalist, and was lately enunciated 

 by one of the most philosophic enquirers of the present day. The 

 known histories of the economies of various species of ants are so 

 wonderful, and at the same time so well attested, that we are prepared 

 to receive, not only as credible, but also as unquestionable, histories 

 which otherwise would appear to many the creations of romance, the 

 concoctions of enthusiasts, and possibly, by some, might be deemed 

 nothing less than ridiculous absurdities." 



Who has not read with unbounded astonishment of that species of 

 Formicidae which, blest with intelligence and sympathies above the 

 rest of its tribe, mourns for and buries its dead with becoming solemnity, 

 conveying them in mournful procession to their last resting-place ? 

 The funeral avit is a species registered in the annals of a learned 

 Society. 



" Go to the ant, thou sluggard ; consider her ways and be wise : " 

 this proverb may serve as a fitting prelude to a passing notice of 

 another even more wonderful and intelligent species than the funeral 

 ant ; I allude to the agricultural or farming ant : we are lost in our 

 admiration of the history of this intelligent Fonnica. We have long 

 been familiar with the history of those ants which store up food for 

 the day when no ant can work, and we admire the intelligent foresight 

 exhibited by this Formica piovidens, but our admiration becomes un- 

 bounded when we are told the tale of the agricultural or farming ant. 

 This intelligent creature, rivalling the most experienced agriculturist, 

 first proceeds to clear the ground of all weeds or plants which might 

 impoverish it, and thus reduce the chance of an abundant harvest ; 

 like an experienced farmer it selects the best seeds for planting, it digs 

 the ground, it plants the seeds, and when the grain is ripe it gathers 

 its harvest into its garners. More wonders are in store for us : the 

 histories of the Formicidae are beginning to be written. 



Of slave-making ants we have long since heard, indeed we have 

 become witnesses of their depravity, and Polyergus rufesceus and 

 Formica sanguinege have been considered proper cognomens for such 

 atrocious and ruthless invaders. There can be little doubt of their 

 having learned to avail themselves of the barbarous custom of slave- 



