238 THE INDUSTRIES OF ANIMALS. 



workers of the corps are fatigued, comrades who have 

 been resting come to take their place. These acts are 

 not the result of a stupid instinct which the Hymen- 

 optera obey without understanding. If we place a 

 swarm, as Huber did, in a roomy position where there 

 is plenty of air, they do not devote themselves to an 

 aimless exercise. This only takes place in the narrow 

 dwellings which Man grants to his winged guests. 



The attention of Ants to public hygiene is more 

 than equalled by their attention to personal hygiene. 

 Without going into the question of their athletic 

 exercises, which have attracted considerable atten- 

 tion, it is sufficient to quote one observer as to 

 their habits of cleanliness. McCook remarks : — " The 

 Agricultural Ants — and the remark applies to all 

 other Ants of which I have knowledge — is one of 

 the neatest of creatures in her personal habits. I 

 think I have never seen one of my imprisoned har- 

 vesters, either Barbatus or Crudelis, in an untidy 

 condition. They issue from their burrows, after the 

 most active digging, even when the earth is damp, 

 without being perceptibly soiled. Such minute par- 

 ticles of dust as cling to the body are carefully 

 removed. Indeed, the whole body is frequently and 

 thoroughly cleansed, a duty which is habitually, I 

 might almost venture to say invariably, attended to 

 after eating and after sleep. In this process the Ants 

 assist one another ; and it is an exceedingly interest- 

 ing sight which is presented to the observer when 

 this general ' washing up ' is in progress." ^ 



Prudence of Bees. — Certain species exhibit very 

 great prudence, especially the Melipona geniculata, 



> H. C. McCook, Agricultural Ants of Texas, 1879, chapter on 

 "Toilet, Sleeping, and Funeral Habits," p. 125. 



