Insects. 7613 



making from their superior in intelligence who stands at the head of 

 the Vertebrata : this is not the only lesson they have learned, as will be 

 shown by the following comruunication, received from a highly esteemed 

 and intelligent correspondent : — 



Addiscombe, East Surrey, 

 April I, 1861. 



" Dear Sir, — My attention has been much devoted during the past 

 season to the habiis of our British Formicidae, but I have most parti- 

 cularly observed the Formica sanguinea, and its victim Formica fusca ; 

 on more than one occasion I have witnessed the attack of the sanguine 

 ant upon the citadel of the F. fusca. In the month of June last I 

 witnessed an unparalleled display of intelligence on the part of the 

 fuscous ant ; where it acquired the knowledge necessary to enable it 

 to arrive at the perfection which I observed in what I am about to 

 relate will be obvious, I think, to all who read the account which 

 follows. Outside, but near to its nest, I observed several columns of 

 ants ranged in perfectly parallel lines, and what greatly added to my 

 astonishment was observing that their heads were all turned in the 

 same direction. I now observed an ant of the largest size, apparently 

 larger than any in the ranks, advance in front of the foremost line ; 

 presently it raised itself upon its hinder legs, supporting itself upon the 

 apex of its abdomen in a most threatening attitude, with its jaws 

 widely distended : on turning to the lines I observed that every ant 

 had assumed the same defiant altitude ; presently the commander 

 retreated several paces ; the fuscous lines retreated also. The precision 

 with which these movements were made was most admirable. They 

 next formed into hollow, then into solid squares ; every movement 

 was as precise as those of regular troops on a battle field. What could 

 all this tend to ? what had so completely changed as it were the 

 peaceful character of this ant, which now stood before me in ranks of 

 dusky warriors ? 



" Whilst 1 was making these reflections I observed a line of the 

 sanguine ants approaching; their march was rapid. When, on rounding 

 a small hillock, they came in front of the line of fuscous ants, their 

 march was brought to a sudden halt ; confusion was evident amongst 

 the disordered ranks ; terror had seized the whole band of freebooters. 

 The fuscous ants now advanced in a dense impenetrable column, the 

 line of rash invaders broke up in confusion and hurried back to their 

 own abode. The precise locality of these interesting manoeuvres is 

 the ground upon which the East Surrey Volunteer Rifle Corps meet 

 for,drill twice or three times every week. 



" Let the name Formica fusca be henceforth forgotten ; lot the 



