356 PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 



of their habitations, which have been already noticed : — but, without either 

 of these, I have matter enough to Gil the rest of thU letter with interest- 

 ing traits, while I endeavor to teach you their language, to develop their 

 affections and passions, and to dehneate their virtues, — while I show them 

 to you when engaged in war, and enable you to accompany them both in 

 their military expeditions and in their emigrations, — while I make you a 

 witness of their indefatigable industry and incessant labors, or invite 

 you to be present, during their hours of relaxation, at their sports and 

 amusements. 



That ants, though they are mute animals, have the means of communi- 

 cating to each other information of various occurrences, and use a kind of 

 language which is mutually understood, will appear evident from the fol- 

 lowing facts. 



If those at the surface of a nest are alarmed, it is wonderful in how 

 short a time the alarm spreads through the whole nest. It runs from 

 quarter to quarter ; the greatest inquietude seems to possess the community ; 

 and they carry with all possible despatch their treasures, the larva; and 

 pupa3, down to the lowest apartments. Amongst those species of ants 

 that do not go much from home, sentinels seem to be stationed at the 

 avenues of their city. Disturbing once the little heaps of earth thrown 

 up at the entrances into the nest of F.Jlavn, which is of this description, 

 I was struck by observing a single ant immediately come out, as if to see 

 what was the matter, and this three separate tin)es. 



The F. herculanea inhabits the trunks of hollow trees on the Continent 

 (for it has not yet been found in England), upon which they are often 

 passing to and fro. M. Huber observed, that when he disturbed those 

 that were at the greatest distance from the rest, they ran towards them, 

 and, striking their head against them, communicated their cause of fear or 

 anger, — that these, in their turn, conveyed in the same way the intelligence 

 to others, till the whole colony was in a ferment, those neuters which were 

 within the tree running out in crowds to join their companions in the 

 defence of their habitation. The same signals that excited the courage 

 of the neuters produced fear in the males and females, which, as soon as 

 the news of tiie danger was thus communicated to them, retreated into the 

 tree as to an asylum. 



The legs of one of this gentleman's artificial formicaries were plunged 

 into pans of water, to prevent the escape of the ants ; — this proved a 

 source of great enjoyment to these little beings, for they are a very thirsty 

 race, and lap water like dogs.^ One day, when he observed many of 

 them tippling very merrily, he was so cruel as to disturb them, which sent 

 most of the ants in a fright to the nest ; but some more thirsty than the 

 rest continued their potations. Upon this, one of those that had retreated 

 returns to inform his thoughtless companions of their danger ; one he 

 pushes with his jaws; another he strikes first upon the belly, and then 

 upon the breast ; and so obliges three of them to leave off their carousing, 

 and march homewards; but the fourth, more resolute to drink it out, is not 

 to Itc discomfited, and pays not the least regard to the kind blows with 

 which his compeer, solicitous for his safety, repeatedly belabors him. At 

 length, determined to have his way, he seizes him by one of his hind-legs, 



> Gould, 92. De Geer, ii. 1067. Huber, 5. 132. 



