PREFACE. vii 
T had intended to make my observations principally 
on bees; but I soon found that ants were more con- 
venient for most experimental purposes, and I think 
they have also more power and flexibility of mind. 
They are certainly far calmer, and less excitable. 
I do not attempt to give anything like a full life- 
history of ants, but I have reproduced the substance of 
two Royal Institution lectures, which may serve as an 
introduction to the subject. Many of the facts there 
recorded wiil doubtless be familiar to most of my 
readers, but without the knowledge of them the ex- 
periments described in the subsequent chapters would 
scarcely be intelligible. 
I have given a few plates illustrating some of the 
species te which reference has been most frequently 
made ; selecting Lithography (as I was anxious that the 
figures should be coloured), and having all the species 
of ants drawn to one scale, although I was thus obliged 
in some measure to sacrifice the sharpness of outline, 
and the more minute details. I am indebted t) Mr. 
