EDWARD BURGESS. 51 



unmistakable evidence of satisfaction at the return of 

 their missing comrades ; whereas a foreigner was in- 

 stantly attacked and killed. It was supposed that this 

 recognition was due to a sense of smell or to some signs 

 acquired in their earlier acquaintances which they com- 

 municated to one another. To test this, Sir John 

 Lubbock, in September separated a colony of ants into 

 two parts, each provided with a queen. There were no 

 pupae or eggs in the nest at the time, nor until the fol- 

 lowing April. In August the ants were grown and the 

 young members of the separated families vv'ere introduced 

 to each other. The recognition was not as immediate as 

 in the former instances — they appeared somewhat per- 

 plexed and puzzled, but finally after satisfying them- 

 selves of each others identity, fraternized in the friend- 

 liest fashion. This put an end to all the explanations 

 which had hitherto been received to account for this 

 wonderful discernment, and it is still unaccounted for. 

 When one considers the number of individuals that com- 

 pose an ant's nest, this fact of the recognition of relatives 

 is most astonishing. In view of this it is not surprising 

 that they should have an affection for one another and 

 help each other in distress. Mr. Belt fastened one under 

 a stone with its legs projecting. As soon as he was dis- 

 covered his comrades pulled vigorously at him until he 

 was released. Another was buried under same clay with 

 only his antennae sticking out, A passing ant noticed 

 him and tried to extricate him but without success. He 

 then went away and it was supposed had deserted his 

 imprisoned relation ; but presently he returned, laboring 

 under great excitement, with about twelve others. They 

 all set to work to dig out the prisoner, and in a short 

 time he was free. 



Sir John Lubbock's experiments showed indifference 

 to one another when in distress, but this was with 

 another specie of ants. The characters of different 



7 



