EFFECT OF LIGHT. 269 
the nest and the rotating table as before, and let out 
three ants which I had imprisoned on the 19th, and 
which knew their way. I put them on the larve at M 
as before. The paper pathway had been left untouched. 
The ants examined the larve and then went straight 
home along the paper path; but, to my surprise, only 
one of them carried off a larva. Nevertheless they 
had evidently taken the news to the nest, for the ants 
at once began coming to the cup in considerable num- 
bers and carrying off the larve. Ido not altogether 
understand this proceeding, and unluckily had not 
marked the first three ants; so that I cannot tell 
whether they brought or sent their friends. It seems 
possible that they felt unequal to the exertion of carrying 
a burthen to the nest until they had had some food. 
When the ants were fairly at work I turned the 
table 90 degrees. In this case eight ants which were 
on their way to the larve continued their march along 
the paper, while two turned back; but none left the 
paper and went across the table straight for the larve. 
I then stopped the experiment for a while, so that 
the excitement might subside; as when the ants 
become too numerous it is not so easy to watch them. 
When all was quiet J put the cup with the larve 
on the middle of the table, and covered the greater 
part of the table with the box as before. In a short 
time some ants again came to the larve, and then, 
just as they were leaving the cup on their way home, I 
turned the table, as before, half round. 
Under these circumstances, however, instead of 
