ANTS AND ANT LIFE. 169 



creature did not cease. One shameless ant even tried to 

 pull it away from its bearer, until the latter at length 

 reached a little stopped-up hole and attained its object. 



In an experiment made by Forel, Amazons recognized 

 their slaves almost instantaneously after a four months' 

 separation. But after a year, according to his experiments, 

 such recognition no longer took place, and this is the more 

 likely as the life of an ant seldom lasts more than a year, 

 and after such a lapse of time the nest, therefore, is occupied 

 by new inmates. Yet "VV. M. R. (loc. cit.) had ants in his 

 possession which attained to an age of from two to three years. 

 This was especially the case with queens. The same ob- 

 server had the opportunity of establishing recognition 

 between friend and enemy after a separation of thirteen 

 months. The friend was recognised and welcomed, but the 

 enemy was driven away. Lubbock also (loc. cit.) proved 

 that recognition took place after a separation lasting more 

 than a year, and that individuals lived for from three to 

 four years. 



