SOCIAL COMMUNITIES OF BEES AND ANTS 217 
leaves is called the fungus garden. ‘If a nest be broken into 
and the fungus garden scattered, the ants collect it as quickly as 
possible, especially the younger parts, taking as much trouble 
over it as over the larvae. They also cover it up again as soon 
as possible to protect it from the light.” * 
Again, it may be asked with regard to the social life of ants 
as with respect to that of bees—How far is their complex 
behaviour instinctive ? How far is it due toimitation ? What 
part does intelligence play, and under what conditions of 
acquisition ? Is reason, in the restricted sense of the word, a 
factor in the development of the behaviour ? I cannot answer 
these questions, and am of opinion that much detailed observa- 
tion is yet needed before we can do much more than speculate 
in the matter. Much indeed has been done, but yet more 
remains for future investigation. 
The conditions under which much of the behaviour is 
carried out seem to indicate strong instinctive tendencies 
which give an hereditary trend to the direction which the 
social behaviour takes. Dr. Bethe,t indeed, goes so far as to 
regard the behaviour as almost entirely instinctive, affording 
little evidence of that modifiability of reactions which indi- 
cates intelligent guidance. He shows as the result of careful 
experiment that the behaviour of ants to friends and enemies 
are direct reactions to smell. Enemies washed with the excre- 
tions of members of the nest are treated as friends, notwith- 
standing their different colour, size, and general appearance. 
By scent, too, they follow the lead of others and retrace their 
way to the nest ; this, he says, is not the result of a mental 
process, but is the reaction of a complicated reflex mechanism. 
As the outcome of careful observation, Dr. Bethe’s conclusions 
are of great value and interest. But he seems to go too far 
in denying to ants any power of intelligent accommodation to 
circumstances. Jf we admit intelligence, then the fact that 
* Nature, vol. xlvii., p. 393 (Aug., 1893), where A. Modlle1’s 
investigations are described by J. C. Willis. 
+ A. Bethe, “ Diirfen wir den Ameisen und Bienen psychische Quali- 
taten Zuschreiben,” Pfliiger’s Archiv., 1xx., 1898. 
