118 ON THE HABITS OF ANTS. [lect. 



Thus, during these two hours, more than one hundred 

 and twenty ants came out of the nest, in company with 

 the one under observation. She knew her way perfectly, 

 and it is clear that, if she had been let alone, all these 

 ants would have accompanied her to the store of food. 

 Three of them were accidentally allowed to do so, but 

 of the remainder only five found their way to the food ; 

 all the others, after wandering about a while, returned 

 empty-handed to the nest. 



I conclude, then, that when large numbers of ants 

 come to food they follow one another, being also to a 

 certain extent guided by scent. The fact, therefore, does 

 not imply any considerable power of intercommunica- 

 tion. There are, moreoverj some circumstances which 



