Io8 THE INDUSTRIES OF ANIMALS. 



secrete. A solicitous ant arriving at this moment 

 finds its efforts in vain, but still behaves like a good 

 shepherd ; it shows no impatience or anger towards 

 its exhausted beast, knowing well that it is only neces- 

 sary to come back a little later or to go to another 

 member of the herd. Nor are his cares lessened by 

 finding the source dried up. He foresees that it will 

 still be good after repose, and if it is hungry he dis- 

 gorges food for it. 



Degrees of civilisation in the same species of Ants. — 

 These facts are sufficiently marvellous in themselves, 

 but are more surprising when we recollect that they 

 cannot be regarded as an innate and unreflecting 

 instinct with which all the individuals of the same 

 species are endowed. The art of domesticating the 

 Claviger is a stage of civilisation reached by some 

 tribes and not by others. Lespesi has placed this 

 out of doubt in the following manner. He had speci- 

 mens of Lasius niger who exploited a flock of 

 Coleoptera. Having met ants of the same species 

 who possessed no flocks, he brought them some. At 

 the sight of the little insects they threw themselves on 

 them, killed them, and devoured them. If we compare 

 these facts with those which pass in human societies, 

 it will seem to us that these latter Hymenoptera 

 behave like a horde of hunters in the presence of a 

 flock of sheep, while the first have already arrived at 

 the sheep-herding stage. 



Aphis-pens and paddocks. — Ants can also keep 

 Aphides in their homes. In this case, fearing that 

 the adult beasts may not be able to adopt a change of 

 surroundings and food, they bring the eggs to their 



1 " Recheiches sur quelques Coleopteres aveugles," ^«M. Sc. Nal., 

 V. Serie, t. ix., 1868, p. 71. 



