154 Inmbbock’s Observations on Bees and Anis. [ March, 
all, I fear the experience of all bee-keepers shows that they have 
no conscientious scruples about robbing their weaker brethren. 
“ If the bees of a strong stock,” says Langstroth, “ once get a 
taste of forbidden sweets, they will seldom stop until they have 
tested the strength of every hive.” And again, ‘Some bee- 
keepers question whether a bee that once learns to steal ever re- 
turns to honest courses.” Siebold has mentioned similar facts in 
the case of wasps (Polistes). 
M. Forel, in his excellent work, Les Fourmis de la Suisse, 
asserts that ants, when they first quit the pupal state, like the 
bees, devote themselves to household duties and the care of the 
young, not taking any part in the defense of the nest until a 
later period of life. He has repeated many of Huber’s experi- 
ments. As regards the memory of ants, he convinced himself 
that they recognized their companions after a separation of four 
months ; but he believes they would not do so for more than one 
season. In my previous memoir I have described the behavior 
of ants to companions from whom they had been separated for 
several months, and mentioned that I could not satisfy myself as 
to the lively manifestations of joy and satisfaction described by 
Huber as being shown under such circumstances. M. Forel, in 
the above-mentioned work, expresses his opinion that the signs 
which Huber regarded as marks of affection were in reality 
signs of distrust and fear, which, however, were soon removed. 
Ants of different nests are generally enemies; but M. Forel 
assures us (page 262) that when they first quit the pupa-stage, 
ants do not distinguish friends from foes, though three or four days 
are sufficient to enable them to do so. It is to be regretted that 
he does not give the facts on which this interesting statement is 
based. 
The behavior of ants to one another differs very much accord- 
ing as they are alone or supported by numerous com panions. An 
ant which would run away in the first case will fight bravely in 
the second (page 249). q 
MM. Forel and Ebrard both assert that if an ant is a little ill, 
or slightly wounded, she is carefully tended by her companions; 
while, on the other hand, those which are dangerously ill or 
wounded are carried out of the nest todie. I have not met with 
any cases of this kind. 
Again, some days I found no ants about on my window-sill as 
a although there seemed nothing in the weather to account 
or it. 
