3772 Insects. 



examining it, and sending out runners to explore the vicinity. But 

 if one of them be crushed by the finger and quickly removed, the 

 next comer is instantly arrested in his progress, encircles the spot, 

 ascertains the death, and communicates the intelligence with such 

 inconceivable rapidity, that the whole line falls into confusion, num- 

 bers rush to the place, parties set off in pursuit of the offender, and 

 woe to the unfortunate cricket that happens to be found in the vici- 

 nity of the track. By degrees the tumult subsides ; for some time 

 afterwards, however, every ant that passes makes a halt, but without 

 quitting the line. Light does not appear to have any effect on their 

 operations ; they are not disturbed by the approach of a candle, al- 

 though the slightest touch of the box instantaneously effects their 

 complete dispersion ; and the alternations of night and day appear to 

 make no difference in their numbers, perceptions, or labour. 



Mr. Daniell was never able positively to ascertain the place of 

 their retreat ; he believes it, however, to have been in the earth below 

 the oven, and is inclined to think that they form a nest, inasmuch 

 as they frequently carry off portions of vegetable fibre, and even the 

 smaller bones, probably for the purpose of building, as they w T ere 

 always carried off entire, and he could never observe that any por- 

 tion of a bone was eaten. In consequence of this latter propensity, 

 he was never able to procure the skeletons of the small species of 

 Gasterosteus, for example, entire, notwithstanding the closest watch- 

 ing. A single ant will carry away a rib of these small fishes ; 

 but in removing a larger bone they act simultaneously, some drag- 

 ging it forwards and others pushing it on with their heads from 

 behind. If, in ascending the side of the box, the bone fell to 

 the bottom, they returned and recommenced their labour, never 

 abandoning an attempt in which they had once engaged. The 

 largest portion of bone which Mr. Daniell has seen them remove, 

 consisted of the ulna and radius of Mus messorius, with the carpus 

 attached. They appeared more eager in carrying off portions of 

 bone in the months of January and February than at any other 

 period of the year ; but they worked most rapidly in the summer 

 months, and it is astonishing with what celerity and perseverance 

 they continued their labours, the most rapidly cleaned skeletons being 

 always the best and whitest, the periosteum being entirely removed. 

 With such pertinacity do they penetrate every cavity, that, minute as 

 they are, they are frequently victims to the ardour of their attack, be- 

 coming fixed, for example, between the plates of the cranium, in the 

 cellular texturo of which they may be seen entangled and dead. Al- 



