iv.] CO-OPERATION AMONG ANTS. 113 



under such circumstances. On June 12,1 put a Lasius 

 niger, belonging to a nest which I had kept two or three 

 days without food, to some honey. She fed as usual, 

 and then was returning to the nest, when she met some 

 friends, whom she proceeded to feed. When she had 

 thus distributed her stores, she returned alone to the 

 honey, none of the rest coming with her. When she 

 had a second time laid in a stock of food, she again in 

 the same way fed several ants on her way towards the 

 nest ; but this time five of those so fed returned with 

 her to the honey. In due course these five would no 

 doubt have brought others, and so the number at the 

 honey would have increased. 



Some species, however, act much more in association 

 than others — Lasius niger, for instance, much more than 

 Formica fusca. I have already given an illustration 

 of what happens when a Lasius niger finds a store of 

 food. The following is a great contrast. On the 28th 

 March, I was staying at Arcachon. It was a beautiful 

 and very warm spring day, and numerous ants were 

 coursing about on the flagstones in front of our hotel. 



At about 10.45 I put a Formica fusca to a raisin. 

 She fed till 11.2, when she went almost straight to her 

 nest, which was about 12 feet away. In a few minutes 

 she came out again, and returned to the fruit, after a 

 few small wanderings, at about 11.18. She then fed 

 till 11.30, when she returned to the nest. 



At 11.45 another ant accidentally found the fruit. I 

 imprisoned her. 



At 11.50 the first returned, and fed till 11.56, when 

 she went off to the nest. On the way she met and 

 talked with three ants, none of whom, however, came 



I 



